Aftermarket Steering Wheel for 66 Barracuda with stock column?

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68Cummins

68Cummins

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I strongly don't like the stock steering wheel in my Barracuda for a variety of reasons.
I have not had it off the column to see how it attaches, I am looking for some guidance here.
I have the original manual steering column.
What steering wheels and/or adaptors have you all had luck with? Something in the 15" range I think would work well.
I think I would prefer to have one that is more flat, this will allow me to sit closer to the dash so my kids have a little more room.
Thanks
 
Steering wheel manufacturers should have the proper adapter for your column. What wheel do you have? Do you have power steering?
 
16:1 quick ratio Firm Feel Manual Steering
Original column
Factory original steering wheel
I want something with a smaller overall diameter with a larger grip and more ridged. The top of the original wheel is to flexible.
Just wanting to see what others have and like.

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68Cummins said:
16:1 quick ratio Firm Feel Manual Steering
Original column
Factory original steering wheel
I want something with a smaller overall diameter with a larger grip and more ridged. The top of the original wheel is to flexible.
Just wanting to see what others have and like.

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I had the standard wheel like yours in my 66 Dart only the Dart has a full circle horn ring. I agree with you, what a pain. I found a factory woodgrain wheel that I like real well. Especially with manual steering.

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There are plenty of wheels to choose from. Cost is anywhere from about $50 to big $$$. Grant makes many types and Summit or Jegs will have the sizes and depth of the wheels.3 1/2'' deep is the norm. You have to be careful as other things come into play. For one is the turn signal lever. Going smaller and less deep you may find yourself hitting the lever while turning.Also I ran into the problem with a less deep wheel your hands are close to the dash pad. It was a problem on my 63 B body.Lucky I had several wheels to experiment with.In the photo is a wheel on my 64 Dart .A crappy one from back in the 60's Superior. 12 1/2 '', Too small diameter.I went with a 14'' Grant Formula GT from Jegs #470-774.That worked well.Sorry no picture of it installed.
Last but not least is the trim ring between the column and wheel. The early cars use a smaller trim ring that may not be available anymore as the 70's up cars with the ignition switch in the column takes a larger trim ring.At one time Grant supplied both in the horn kit. Sorry for being long winded.Just some of the things I found over the years.
 
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I bought a old grant "Classic" wheel, that was all faded, and worn looking at a swap meet. I cleaned up the chrome, and redyed the wood, and finished it with gun stock finish. Came out pretty good, I think.
I had to get the correct Grant mounting kit for it, and a horn button.
This is on my 66 B-Cuda stock coluum with PS.
The Grant installation kit # you need for early "A"s is #4310, you will need a horn button also. Mine went together easy, and my turn sigs work as required.
Dave

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Only experience I have with after market steering wheels is using Grants. The
steering wheels themselves are nice, but the adapter horn/switch setup is not.
The cheap copper plated electrical contact wears out and leaves you without a
horn. This adapter also has 3 mounting holes which the wheel is attached to tapped
into an aluminum alloy material with about 5mm shoulder bolts. This is not very
robust with a 16:1 manual setup in which you really have to yank on the wheel at
low speeds. I have a Grant on a 66 Valiant that the horn goes off when I turn the
wheel sometimes, I've had it apart and seem if you tighten the column nut too
much something touches the horn contact. Pisses me off as I can't find out where!
 
Manual steering and a small wheel is a ***** to drive.
 
The Tuff wheel set up is as good as it gets, but do not use the Grant G/T adapter junk. The Grant wheel is okay, get a factory extension can and reuse your horn switch on the Grant wheel, as it has holes drilled and tapped in it to serve as a factory replacement wheel. The Grant wheel horn button will work on the factory horn switch after you pop the adapter for the Grant horn button out.
 
Thank you all for the input.
barracudadave67 nice work in the wood wheel!
I don't want to go to small but some reduction in over diameter will make getting in and out easer.
 
The Grant tuff wheel is 13-1/2 inches in diameter, it is pretty comfortable with the stock 20:1 manual steering and 215/70r14 front tires.
 
68
The wheel in my pic is not small, maybe 1/2in in diameter smaller than stock. The wheel is still available from Summit, or Jegs. If you go the Grant route, I have an extra # 4310 mounting kit if you want. I'd like to get rid of. PM if intrested.
Dave
 
Once you have the Grant wheel hub kit to fit your steering column you can buy adapters at Amazon to mount most any aftermarket wheel you choose. Mine is a momo bolt pattern wheel. The adapter under it is 1 inch tall/thick.
 
I, too, use a Grant wheel. I had similar issues like 66Jim described. I made a spacer to lift the wheel away from the horn contact so the horn didn’t go off by itself when I would turn left or right.

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RedFish said:
Once you have the Grant wheel hub kit to fit your steering column you can buy adapters at Amazon to mount most any aftermarket wheel you choose. Mine is a momo bolt pattern wheel. The adapter under it is 1 inch tall/thick.
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Hi Redfish, do you happen to have any pics of your steering wheel setup? Thanks
 
Superior 500 was on my car when I got it.
Love the look, but it was a little slippery at times, so I added the old school tie on grip.
Love it even more.

It doesn't cancel the turn signals, but it might be missing a piece, it was missing a few other parts for the horn when I got it.

I just like the look of the 500.
I bought another one, red metallic, this one is grippy, or sticky I guess you could say, and near new.

Nos mounting kits all over ebag.

I have manual steering, the wheel is 14.5, and it's a manual trans.

People always tell me manual steering must suck, but there are a few tricks to make it easier.
For example in backing up to turn around, I use the clutch and gravity so I'm not going from reverse/first/reverse, and I start turning the wheel back to the way I want to go before I'm done backing up.

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