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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Stock steering wheel modification?
Posted by: Mueller Jan 24 2005, 02:59 PM
Is there an easy method to increase the thickness of the rim on the stock wheels?
Ideally it would be nice to have the additional material go mostly on the inside diameter so that I don't lose any leg to wheel clearance.
Posted by: anthony Jan 24 2005, 03:37 PM
You can add a Wheelskin to a stock leather covered wheel. It will make it feel thicker overall and not add too much to the outside diameter. There would probably be a way to build up the inside of the wheel (layers of duct tape?) to make it even thicker before you cover it.
Posted by: JOHNMAN Jan 24 2005, 04:12 PM
I don't have a link to it and I don't remember what it was called, but I remember a foam type steering wheel wrap that had some "memory" to it. You could apply it to the wheel and grip it and your fingers would "form" personalized "grips". The wheel was then cured and would become perminant but still plyable.
Something like this applied to the inside diameter of the wheel and then covered with a leather steering wheel cover would give you lots of thickness. I only wish I remember what that foam crap was.
just my $0.02
Posted by: McMark Jan 24 2005, 04:12 PM
Duct tape. That's awesome. Would probably work great too!
Posted by: ppickerell Jan 24 2005, 04:15 PM
Free yourself. Ditch the stock wheel and get a smaller dia. thicker outer ring aftermarket wheel.
Posted by: Mark Henry Jan 24 2005, 04:17 PM
| QUOTE (McMark @ Jan 24 2005, 06:12 PM) |
| Duct tape. That's awesome. Would probably work great too! |
"if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy"
Red Green
http://www.redgreen.com/menu.asp
Posted by: Mueller Jan 24 2005, 04:19 PM
| QUOTE (ppickerell @ Jan 24 2005, 03:15 PM) |
| Free yourself. Ditch the stock wheel and get a smaller dia. thicker outer ring aftermarket wheel. |
that would entail spending too much money
steering wheels are expensive
Posted by: ! Jan 24 2005, 04:21 PM
Hmmmm, another guy that doesn't get OLN....see other post re Paris/Dakar....
Posted by: bondo Jan 24 2005, 04:24 PM
| QUOTE (Mark Henry @ Jan 24 2005, 03:17 PM) | ||
"if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" Red Green |
The handyman's secret weapon! (we need a duct tape smilie)
Posted by: Marty Yeoman Jan 24 2005, 07:08 PM
Mike,
I have a stock steering wheel that I put two wheel covers on.
I used it for years. It is actually quite comfortable.
I'm not using it anymore.
If you want to check it out drop me a PM.
Marty
Posted by: anderssj Jan 24 2005, 07:21 PM
Mike,
Here's a picture of a "wheelskin" brand cover on a stock 914 wheel. Installing it brought the wheel from skinny to just about right . . . .
I think you can capture the image and expand it to get better detail.
Hope this helps,
Steve A-
Attached thumbnail(s)
Posted by: Joseph Mills Jan 24 2005, 07:46 PM
| QUOTE (mikez @ Jan 24 2005, 04:21 PM) |
| Hmmmm, another guy that doesn't get OLN....see other post re Paris/Dakar.... |
Good one.
But gotta warn ya - I got OLN and duct tape...
"I'm so poor I can barely afford my luxuries, much less my basics".
I've got a sparco wheel which I just peeled the deteriorated leather off and wrapped it in duct tape. On my second 6 month old layer now. Works great and doesn't look any worse than the rest of the car.
Posted by: MattR Jan 24 2005, 07:56 PM
You want cheap? Get over grip for tennis rackets
Posted by: SpecialK Jan 24 2005, 08:07 PM
I'm assuming that you currently have the stock hard plastic steering wheel. I recovered one of the original leather steering wheels (the kind AA wants $1200 for... 
), and it had fairly thick foam rubber already molded to it. Got one of those steering wheel recover kits, and now it's phat!
Posted by: brownaar Jan 25 2005, 07:35 AM
Mike,
I too have a wheelskin leather over a stock leather wheel and find it to be a good thickness as well as looking good.
Aaron
Posted by: jim912928 Jan 25 2005, 08:20 AM
I put an 80's leather 911 steering wheel on mine. Smaller, fatter...you can get them cheap. You just have to fab a piece (i used the plastic cover from my 914 wheel) to cover about a 1/2" gap on the steering column
Attached image(s)
Posted by: Eric_Shea Jan 25 2005, 09:39 AM
Mike,
The trick is, as discussed here, two wheelskins (if you have a plasitc wheel, one if you have a covered wheel already).
There was a fairly extensive thread on the Birdie Board from some guy who was taking 914 wheels (cause they're the size of original RS wheels) and putting two covers on them. He was also taking the bases off them etc... (or something like that)
Maybe someone can drum up that link.
I think this is exactly what you're looking for.
Posted by: mike_the_man Jan 25 2005, 12:11 PM
Here's a nice DIY one!
http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa031401a.htm
This one is really cheap on ebay. And sexy! Ggggrrrrr!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7926374885&category=33704
Ok, I'll shut up now. 
Posted by: mskala Jan 25 2005, 08:10 PM
Yep, even $10 at pep boys for a leather cover kit will make the
wheel a more 'modern' grip diameter. You just need strong hands
to keep the thread goin' tight. Follows the original finger indents,
too. Also be careful you don't end up with a slight extra amount
at the end or it will tend to pucker.
Posted by: Mueller Jan 25 2005, 08:44 PM
I've got 2 wheels at home, not sure which one is orignal now....I'll try to post some pictures later on...thanks for the suggestions...(most of them, LOL)
Posted by: buck toenges Jan 25 2005, 09:03 PM
Jim,
Will that 911 steering wheel fit the earlier 914 with out the bigger turn signal switches? Does your horn work? Did you just call a west coast dismantler for one? Splines are the same? What type of seats do you have in your 914? They don't look stock.
Posted by: jim912928 Jan 25 2005, 09:09 PM
Buck, the steering wheel was off of my 1980SC (I put an 87 interior in that car). The splines were fine..there is just about 1/2 inch gap though. So, I cut down the plastic cover off of the back of the 914..used the 914 turnsignal stopper thing and the horn ring. Everything works fine.
The seats are Koenig's (konig's?) made for a 914. Very high side bolsters and match the 914 backpad perfect. From the rear of the car you can't tell the difference as the headrests match the stock 914 headrest form. Pain to get in and out of but you fit in there like a hand in a glove.
Posted by: buck toenges Jan 25 2005, 09:28 PM
Jim are these the koenigs you are talking about? I just got a pair of corbeau classics but don't like they way they feel. The top of the seat is too low on my spine of the scapulas. Are those black seats or are they grey?
Attached image(s)
Posted by: jim912928 Jan 25 2005, 09:33 PM
Buck..those are not the seats. These seats are black with black cloth inserts. See attached pic of the seats as I was installing the interior:
Attached image(s)
Posted by: SpecialK Jan 26 2005, 04:33 AM
Just saw an opportunity to show off my recovered wheel for my '73 that will someday (finger's crossed) actually be back on the road. 
Yeah....I got bored a couple of years ago and polished the horn button, and steering column cover (not shown)............I've got to quit "dickin' around" so much on the little shit, and put it back together. 
Posted by: SpecialK Jan 26 2005, 04:34 AM
Okay...what a DA, forgot the pic
Dent in the leather on the r/h side is just a impression from storage............might as well hang it on the wall, safer there than in my messy-ass garage. 
Attached image(s)
Posted by: 914Timo Jan 26 2005, 06:27 AM
Looks good, Kevin. 
Did you recover that youself ?? If you did, where did you get the materials ?? Did you usesome recover kit ??
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