Steering wheel replacement

[Bill Gould]

My ’81 Lafer TI came with a 12.5-inch wheel. It’s flat (no dish) with three holed spokes. The wheel rim blocks my view of the top of the tach and speedo. As I’m happy with the height of the seat, I’d like to try a slightly larger wheel — maybe a 14-incher. That should improve my sightline to the two big dash gauges as well as reduce the low-speed turning effort. The hub has six bolt holes (although I have only five bolts and have been unable to find any 3/4-inch 10-24 replacements). I’m a working newspaperman, which means my salary range is about like your typical high-school or community college teacher, so pricey Moto-Litas and such are out of the question. Any suggestions?  

PS: By the way, a used wheel in decent shape would be fine. So if anybody has one gathering dust in their garage, maybe we could make a deal.

TexAg7140800.5435416667

1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engine

[newkitman]

I also am in need of a steering wheel as my kit didn’t come with one. I’ve been visiting the classifieds in http://www.thesamba.com (search for wood steering wheel) and eBay. haven’t found the one I want yet. Those are the two places I frequent. There is also the VW show route. Never know what you might find there.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Bill Gould]

Thanks. I’ve been watching those sites. The only problem is that I keep coming across other stuff I’d like to have, too. 

1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engine

[newkitman]

I know what you mean. I also need an engine and floor pans. Just haven’t found the pans I want. 

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[edward ericson]

Bill:

I bought one of the big Bluemels Brooklands look-alikes at socal. With minor mods it bolted up where the old Grant was–three bolts. It was crazy high though–near $400. I don’t regret it one little bit–even though I’m a reporter like you.

Lots of folks tell me they don’t think they’d like driving with it–since it leaves so little belly room–but everyone likes the look and I fit behind it fine.

My second choice–at less than half the price and very period-correct looking–was their four-spoke sprint wheel, which comes in 14.5 and 17-inch diameters for $150. That wheel could go as-is or maybe shave some of the thick foam off and do a leather cover to make it look older. If you look at pictures of early ’50s Jaguars you’ll see what I mean.

If you buy that wheel and hate it you’ll be able to sell it easily. You might also haunt the ‘bay and some hotrod forums looking for one like it–maybe find one for $50 or less.

Or you could make your own. I almost had a blank made at a local CNC shop, and if I ever want a new wheel that’s the route I’ll go. Why? Because

1. flat wheel means any piece of metal stock that’s 15-inch square can serve as your blank. A piece if 3/16 stainless or quarter inch aluminum will do fine. Scrap pieces like that can be found in a bin at most fab shops.

2. the design can be whatever you want–three spoke, four spoke, whatever. You could copy a Moto Lita exactly–but get the hub holes you need because you drill them yourself.

3. I like woodwork. Carving up the pieces for the rim could be done by anyone with a $25 jigsaw and a table, plus a lot of sanding

4. if you mess up the wood, cover it with a leather wrap. Period accessory.

5. Center/horn piece fabbing is fun. Try for an original TD center on ebay–they come up and usually just need a bit of copper spray paint to look decent.

One of the forum members here sent me his design for a wheel. I can forward it to you with his permission. I think the budget on this job might be $150 at most, depending on the wood.

edsnova40800.8815972222

[Bill Gould]

Thanks, Ed, but my younger brother got all the woodworking genes in our family. A 17-inch wheel would be way too big for the Lafer, especially given my short legs and the cumulative effect of all those years drinking Lone Star, Shiner and Dos Equis (in other words, my beer gut gets in the way). 

1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engine

[billnparts]

Grant has a nice wood wheel. They also offer a plain horn button.

http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/52/

PMOSSBERG40803.9031481482

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[Paul Mossberg]

Nice wheel in billnparts’ link.

But make sure you check the “dish”.

The one in billnparts link looks like a two or three inch dish. Hrd to tell, but it looks like bends in the spokes. That is a lot and will bring the wheel a lot closer to your chest.

On this page, you can filter the entire Grant line by diameter, dish, material and lots more:

http://www.grantproducts.com/products/browse/steering-wheels /

PMOSSBERG40803.9161458333

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Bill Gould]

I like the look of that wood-rim Grant wheel, but there are two problems: I can’t afford it, and my hub has six bolts.

 

1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engine

[edward ericson]

Six bolts? Like an old GM (Corvette) hub?

Oh. Lafer. So actually, you have a Bug column. Grant has an adaptor for that. I think you have to call or email them & they’ll tell you what PN to buy in order to get whatever wheel on it.

Unfortunately, wheels do cost.

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