Questions about steering wheels

[rich weyand]

Hi All:

I put 40-20-40 leather buckets in the truck today. I'll get pics up when it's all tidied and I have some daylight.

I like the look and they are comfy, but my seating position is a couple inches higher, and a bit further forward, and I'm a big fellow to start with. So I am thinking about a smaller steering wheel and maybe a little less dish.

When I look at the stock wheel, it is 16" overall in diameter. When I measure from the front surface of the wheel back to the gap between the steering wheel hub and the column, it is 4".

First, is that how dish is measured, from the front surface of the wheel to the back surface of the flange?

Second, if I put in an aftermarket wheel, is that gap between the current steering wheel and the column where the back of the flange will be?

Can some people who put in aftermarket steering wheels advise me as to what diameter they went to and how much they like it? Also, what dish is it and do you like it?

Thanks for any help on this. A smaller wheel would give me some more room, and ditto for a shallower dish, but I could use some help in deciding what dimensions to go for.

Rich

[vic_V8]

these are the only pics I could find with the steering wheel in it, truck is in storage. it's a 13" grant, it was in the truck already, I don't like it. I bought a 14" grant but it takes a different adapter so it isn't in yet.

the 13" isn't dished much at all, the 14" is a little more

Edit: I'm 6'2" 220lbs

[rich weyand]

What don't you like about it?

Rich

[vic_V8]

it feels like a low rider steering wheel since it's so small. 14" is honestly the biggest I think will fit, smaller seats would also help, but I like my interior.

[BHB]

I don't know the specifics off hand, but I swapped the wheel out of my '89 dually to a 3rd gen Z28 wheel, and it is considerably closer to the column. So much so, that I occasionally brush my hand on the turn signal stalk, and I can't take it out of park with the wheel tilted all the way up.

[rich weyand]

Edit: I'm 6'2" 220lbs

Yeah, I'm 6'3" and 260.

it feels like a low rider steering wheel since it's so small. 14" is honestly the biggest I think will fit, smaller seats would also help, but I like my interior.

Same here. I like the buckets, but they are a little higher and a little closer to the wheel than the stock bench, and I sorta runned out of room.

I don't know the specifics off hand, but I swapped the wheel out of my '89 dually to a 3rd gen Z28 wheel, and it is considerably closer to the column. So much so, that I occasionally brush my hand on the turn signal stalk, and I can't take it out of park with the wheel tilted all the way up.

Hey, BHB. Can you tell me what your overall wheel diameter is, and also what the distance is from the break between the column and the wheel to the rear surface (the surface facing the driver) of the wheel? I have 4" on stock, and shorter would be good.

I would hate to have to put a whole new column for tilt-wheel in it, but maybe that's the way to go.

Rich

[BHB]

I'll get you some measurements when I get home.

A column swap is easy. Finding one is another story.

[GreaseDog]

I'll get you some measurements when I get home.

A column swap is easy. Finding one is another story.

negative. they're easy to find, because people pull themselves into the truck on the wheel, and "wear out the column".

the reality is about 30 minutes to an hours worth of work, and you've got a perfectly good column. the screws that hold the tilt mechanism to the main body of the column.

that said, i run Z24 Cavalier wheels where i don't run a stock one.

*note - this is NOT my interior.

[BHB]

Hey, BHB. Can you tell me what your overall wheel diameter is, and also what the distance is from the break between the column and the wheel to the rear surface (the surface facing the driver) of the wheel? I have 4" on stock, and shorter would be good.

I would hate to have to put a whole new column for tilt-wheel in it, but maybe that's the way to go.

Rich

The Camaro wheel is 14.5" in diameter.
1 1/4" from the break between the column, and base to the back of the wheel.
3" from the break between the column, and base to the front face of the wheel.

negative. they're easy to find,

Good luck finding a pre '81 wiper switch on the dash tilt column.

[GreaseDog]

Good luck finding a pre '81 wiper switch on the dash tilt column.

they all came that way. i've got 2 in the garage.

[BHB]

they all came that way. i've got 2 in the garage.

Really? I must have had 2 of a kind. My '85 K3500, my '86 K1500 had the wiper switch on the column.

[rich weyand]

Well, there's a bunch of tilt columns on car-part.com for a 78. I can call for particulars on any of them.

But it would be better to have one a bit closer to the dash. Any suggestions of which car to take one from that will fit a 78 K-10?

I know I have to worry about AT and column shift, do I also have to worry about power steering or any other options?

Rich

[GreaseDog]

Really? I must have had 2 of a kind. My '85 K3500, my '86 K1500 had the wiper switch on the column.

they went to the wiper switch on the column in 83, 73-82 trucks all had them in the dash.

[rich weyand]

Having the wipers on the dash is a pain in the butt, but it doesn't bother me since I put a momentary foot switch in for the wipers. Like a mist mode, but with a floor button. I hate reaching for the dash again and again when it's just misty, so that solved that problem.

Just need to find a compatible column that's a couple inches shorter with tilt and A/T.

Rich

[BHB]

they went to the wiper switch on the column in 83, 73-82 trucks all had them in the dash.

I'm aware. you said they all came that way.