Killer's latest mod....steering wheel

[69MyWay]

I got this wheel from TZracer www.tropiczoneracing.com

It was NOT made for a vette. I simply used a hole cutting saw, whacked out the center, then transfered a template from the stock steering wheel center to make the new drill holes. Badda bing, badda boom......we have a newer smaller tighter wheel.

Also....I used washers to boost up the bottom two screw mounts as the stock wheel had a recess there. No problem six little stainless washers could not solve.

Plus.....look close at the yellow and red buttons. Hmmmm, can you say future home of ...


NOS....ARMED


NOS....Engaged


GO BABY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[69MyWay]

Another angle

 

[69MyWay]

BTW.......I am pretty sure this method would allow you to use virtually any aftermarket wheel with the right tools to cut it and fit it.

 

[Ken]

:cool

I haven't given that one much thought yet Chris. [size=-5](You'll notice I said yet.)[/size] :L

_ken

 

[matchframe]

Schweeeeeeet!!!!!

 

[Thumper]

Kinda reminds me of the "Fast and the Furious"...

Whatcha gonna do with the old wheel?

 

[69MyWay]

Kinda reminds me of the "Fast and the Furious"...

Whatcha gonna do with the old wheel?

Yes, and "I live my life a 1/4 mile at a time........." hehehhe

I am keeping it, as it at least makes a cooooool wall decoration.

 

[Evolution1980]

Sorry, Chris, but I have to disent here. I don't care for it.

It looks too much like you stole if from a 1990 coin-op arcade game and put it in Killer. Too "plasticky" looking. I think Killer would do better with a good chrome spoke wheel or something that's like a polished aluminum (something similiar to aftermarket C3 wheels that Corvette Ecklers Central sells. Plus, my preference has also always been switches on the console, rather than on the steering wheel. Like the afterburners on a jet fighter, although that means both hands aren't on the wheel for takeoff...

Not that I figure it would ever happen, but heaven forbid you need to hit the horn because someone brake checks you, and you inadvertantly hit the juice! Ouchy!

 

[69MyWay]

Sorry, Chris, but I have to disent here. I don't care for it.

No worries! Hey, I grew up playing those arcade games (in the '80s).

It actually looks better in person.

I am thinking about sanding and polishing the spokes as they are aluminum under the black paint.

The buttons can be removed....I just wanted to make sure they would fit.

The main reason I did this switch, is I HATE the large diameter of the stock wheel! I feel like I have gained much more comfort room getting rid of it. This new wheel is about the size of the zora wheel if not a tad smaller.

 

[Evolution1980]

Yeah, taking it back to it's natural aluminum finish would look better (IMHO). Is yours the OMP Velocita wheel?

Here's one I found that could work, similiar to what you have

Or, although a little bit more extreme, the ones from Colorado Customs: http://www.coloradocustom.com/steeringwheels.asp

or http://www.impywheels.com/steeringwheels.htm
or http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts.cfm/partfamilyid/501/CategoryID/1/SubCategoryID/250
or http://yearwood.safeshopper.com/337/cat337.htm?326

 

[69MyWay]

The brand I installed was called

Proline

However.....it looks EXACTLY as the one you picture, except it is black instead of aluminum. Not to mention the addition of the switch panel.

The price was right (next to nothing so to speak), so well worth the attempt and mod. With power steering, it is GREAT!

The biggest problem if any that I had was cutting the center of it out so that I could mount it exactly like the stock wheel.

This was accomplished with plenty of cutting oil and a simple hole cutting saw blade as you would use to cut a house door for a new door handle. It only took about 5 minutes to puch through. I then took the stock wheel, traced the bolt holes through on a piece of paper, cut that out, taped it to the new wheel, punched/scribed the holes, removed the paper and drilled. From there, it was just a matter of attching it as if it were a stock wheel.

 

[LEEJANDZ]

What type of gauges do you have in your VETTE?



JASON *** BRAND NEW MAGNECOR WIRES FOR SALE!!! *** 1979 L-82

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

I got this wheel from TZracer www.tropiczoneracing.com

It was NOT made for a vette. I simply used a hole cutting saw, whacked out the center, then transfered a template from the stock steering wheel center to make the new drill holes. Badda bing, badda boom......we have a newer smaller tighter wheel.

Also....I used washers to boost up the bottom two screw mounts as the stock wheel had a recess there. No problem six little stainless washers could not solve.

Plus.....look close at the yellow and red buttons. Hmmmm, can you say future home of ...


NOS....ARMED



NOS....Engaged


GO BABY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris: You're at it again. Your ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. "You're The Man!" Too bad we live so far apart. Nobody, & I mean nobody, does the "mods" , around here, like you do to these Vettes. Keep up the great work. IS that a Grant Wheel????

Davey G! (Too bad you couldn't bring that "machine" of yours to one of my "cruise Nites")

 

[groovyjay]

I like it! I'm gonna swap my stock wheel for this:

BTW, the headlights are on and tested, they are one of the best mods I've done to my car (and I've done "few")

 

[LITEVETTE]

I agree about putting the spokes back to aluminum. Your car has a lot of shiny stuff and would look right at home that way. Post pics once you do. Have fun!

 

[MaineShark]

I also think that it would look very nice with the spokes polished (or brushed - I like brushed) back to their aluminum color.

Assuming you decide to keep the buttons, a thought about using them for nitrous: the arming switch is usually a switch, not a button. For safety reasons (like Evolution1980 mentioned), if nothing else. Similar goes for the purge: I doubt it would be good to accidentally hit the purge while actually using the nitrous, since the line pressure would fall dramatically.

However, if the arming switch and purge buttons are moved to the dash, now you have extra buttons. How about wiring one to the brake light circuit, to flash your lights to warn people that you are slowing, or to tell tailgaters to back off, etc.? The other, well, I'm sure you can come up with something. Maybe some sort of control for the radio.

Joe

 

[Tom Bryant]

I like it but it will look better polished. I looked at Vettefest for a '69-'75 Corvette wheel for my '69 stepside. You would have thought they were rare from the price. The cheapest was $135.00 One guy had a stack of them as tall as his table for $225. ea. :eek Needless to say I didn't bring one home.

Tom

 

[Stallion]

I like the stock wheels on Corvettes! I would never change mine out.

TR

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

I like it but it will look better polished. I looked at Vettefest for a '69-'75 Corvette wheel for my '69 stepside. You would have thought they were rare from the price. The cheapest was $135.00 One guy had a stack of them as tall as his table for $225. ea. :eek Needless to say I didn't bring one home.

Tom

Tom: I know what you mean 'bout the prices for those wheels at the "VetteFest". My son & I were looking for one for his S-10 PU. Needless to say, we passed 'em up too. The last vette wheel I bought, I got at The "GoodGuys" show in Indy last year. The wheel was black, with tri-black spokes & it had an older style horn button with it too. The guy was asking 75 bucks for everything, I kept passing it up & finally made him an offer just about the time he was packing up to leave. Ended up getting the whole thing for 40 bucks. Too bad that didn't happen this spring at "VetteFest"

Dave

 

[Tom Bryant]

I'll keep looking. There will be a fair priced one sooner or later.

Tom