can a car sterring wheel be used in a bus ?

[crown]

 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

[dukegrad98]

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

[chev49]

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...

[crown]

 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

[Iceni 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

[Lin]

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.

[HB of CJ]

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)

[luvrbus]

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

[fraser8]

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.

[Uglydog56]

My vote:

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

[crown]

 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

[crown]

  rick there nice but was leaning to something like this 
  first pic is same wheel as mine
  second is a 49 chevy
  thanks john

[gus]

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!

[trucktramp]

Here's what you need http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRT-741

[Uglydog56]

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