ok as stated any reason a car sterring wheel cant be used. my bus is a 57 model and was thinking
a 57 vintage car wheel would look nice say 59 cadilac ect . other then making a adapter ? .
any thoughts ? thanks john
Do you have power steering? If not, I would think the leverage of the much larger wheel would be important, depending on the manual steering rack.
Cheers, John
of course a car steering wheel could be used... with power steering. Get one of those chrysler product ones that have one side that is flat....adaptor can be easily made.
course, you will then have to get retro gauges, and dash... ;D
hi yes full power stering and a retro dash & gauges if fact i used vintage chrome chevy switches for lights
wippers heat ect thanks john
If you have power steering, think what will happen if you blow a hydraulic hose or if the pump ceases to pump. At that point you'll have to be able to steer by brute force alone, not a problem on the open road, but a challenge on crowded city streets at low speeds. I had a high-pressure hose blow out a few years ago, and I lost all my power steering - I was thankful I had a full-size steering wheel while I was getting the bus off the freeway and into a parking lot for emergency repairs.
John
I had a 1967 GMC Superior conversion. When we put the power steering in, we also put in the whole steering column from a Cadillac. It worked great, but could have been a problem if the power steering failed. Also, the bus only weighed in at about 22,000#. I think my wheel now is 18inch. VIP has nice steering wheels of various sizes very reasonably priced.
Good answers already given and thank you. If your power steering fails, will you be able to exert enough steering force to the wheel to safely control the Bus Conversion?
FWIW; my old Crown Supercoach 10-wheeler had power assist steering and I safely drove the coach several hundred miles with no power steering belts. HB of CJ (old coot) :) :)
All buses are a problem when the power steering quits it makes no difference what size wheel you have they are a bitch to steer when the problem happens
good luck
My 57 chev had a 18" steering wheel and when I added power steering the wheel was way to big, it was odd to drive as you could make some real quick turns. I changed it to a 15" after market one made in the same design as the original. Buses use a 18' or 20 " so it just might work on your coach. The only thing I would be concerned about is if was strong enough for heavy use.
My vote:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/15-inch-impala-style-steering-wheel,58574.html (http://www.speedwaymotors.com/15-inch-impala-style-steering-wheel,58574.html)
You can get them in 15 and 18 I believe. Yep, here's one:
http://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-steering-wheel-assembly-impala-style-1955-1957.html (http://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-steering-wheel-assembly-impala-style-1955-1957.html)
thanks lots of good thoughts my sterring colum came from a monaco motorhome and it has i think
a 18'' vip leather wheel my thoughts where a white or beige color vintage one with the big chrome
horn ring would look very nice . i dont known what size they where in the 40-50 but they look big
maybe 18'' ? or plan b strip the black paint off my wheel and polish the center to a chrome finish
[i have done that before lots of work but looks nice ] then maybe add a horn ring ? trying to keep
a retro look . so any new thoughts thanks john
rick there nice but was leaning to something like this
first pic is same wheel as mine
second is a 49 chevy
thanks john
Actually, you can make quicker turns with a smaller wheel than a large one.
What a larger wheel gives you is more leverage, less effort, but less turning with the same steering wheel rim movement.
I've had to make a few turns without my PS operating (cold weather, low fluid level) which I never could have done with a smaller wheel. Depends on your arm strength too, I'm an old wimp so I can't do much with manual steering!
Here's what you need http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRT-741 (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRT-741)
Well, after a morning on ebay, I really like that chevy one the best - it's thick enough to match the size of the bus, but has the dressy full ring. I did find this one, which also has a full ring, and it's red so it matches other stuff you've already done:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Cadillac-STEERING-WHEEL-REPAIRED-AND-LEATHER-WRAPPED-HOT-ROD-RAT-ROD-RES-/280825038149?hash=item41627a0545&item=280825038149&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Cadillac-STEERING-WHEEL-REPAIRED-AND-LEATHER-WRAPPED-HOT-ROD-RAT-ROD-RES-/280825038149?hash=item41627a0545&item=280825038149&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr)
thanks rick i kinda like the thick one also a skinny wheel would look funny crown had beige wheels
with a large round horn ring but only saw in pictures
4107s had the neatest wheels, they were white. Mine is painted black but some of the black is wearing off.
found a sterring wheel same as this down the road from house its 17 1/2'' wide
1/2'' less then my wheel and would be a eazy swap . would need to swap out
center emblum . what you all think ? yes or no thanks john
Quote from: crown on April 26, 2012, 05:26:43 PM
what you all think ? yes or no thanks john
Yes. ;D
Btw, I also think you should start a thread in the project section. I really enjoy reading about your build, even though I am usually quiet.
God bless,
John
stupid me forgot to post picture sorry john
any thoughts about this vintage mercades sterring wheel ?
good ? bad ? maybe ? thanks john
personally i would use a 1950 ish buick, or cad or pontiac ... have a 1950 or so pontiac one on my 49 chevy... these steering wheels are approximately the same diameter as the one in my bus.
Will that old Mercedes steering wheel fit your bus's steering column? My recollection of my 1970 Mercedes 280SEL's steering wheel, from the times I had to take it off to fix the horn contact ring and turn signal switch, is that it won't fit my bus's TRW TC34 steering column. At the very least you would have to make some sort of adapter. The Mercedes wheel was held onto the column's splines with a big nut, while my bus's VIP wheel is held on with just three smaller socket-head bolts.
John
chevy 49 yes i would like a 50 ish buick or chevy wheel but thats something i wont find in costarica .
and buying one off e bay it would be hard to known if i can make it work ? would be a bummer to buy
and re ship and pay duty . just to hang on the wall . still looking thanks john
rick the mercdes wheel i found is off a vintage fintail model late 50 it will work .just dont like the
center dounut thing so still looking thanks john
How is the donut attached? Maybe something else could be put in its place?
funny rick you and me think the same the donut is just held on by 3 plasic pins john