I think I've found at least one thing I don't really like about my '68

[bull]

The steering wheel. It's too thin. Maybe I've gotten too used to the modern steering wheels that have some meat to them but whenever I grab the wheel in my '68 I start thinking of ways to make it fatter.

Anyone feel like posting pics of how they've done this, from covers to aftermarket wheels? Am I alone with this complaint?

[69bronzeT5]

I have a '68 wheel in my car. I think its an ok thickness...havent had any complaints about it being too thin...I just dont like the looks of it.

[MoParMetal]

i didnt like the steering wheel in my 71, so i replaced with a Grant steering wheel. probably going to replace that Grant with another Grant.

[suntech]

havent had any complaints about it being too thin...I just dont like the looks of it.

Assuming we are still talking about steering wheels

I am leaning towards the Waterfall one, from Flaming River, or a Tuff Wheel kit from XV.

[694spdRT]

When I drove my '68 back in high school I put a cheap K-mart steering wheel cover on my standard wheel. It just seemed too thin and slippery for me at the time. It's still on there yet. 

The woodgrain wheel on the '69 doesn't seem to bother me nearly as much.

[BROCK]

I thought it was part of the nastalgia

I love the factory woodgrain wheel on my 70

We plan to keep the factory woodgrain wheel in our 64 Barracuda too - even if it is just
for SCCA Racing.  Think driving gloves

OK I admit the 72 gets a Tuff wheel

[CB]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,41616.0.html


I'm also not too happy with thin steering wheels...
CB

[Mike DC]

       
I love the woodgrain wheel, but the points where the spokes meet the rim are very uncomfortable.  Just a little more of a rounded transition between the rim plastic & the spokes would have helped a lot.

For this reason I think the regular stock (non-woodgrain) '60s steering wheel is actually more comfortable in your hands. 

[89MOPAR]

oh no, the princess has found a pea under all the mattresses !
    just kidding bull...

[Brock Samson]

i use two black leather wraps on the R/T the R.R. retains it's stock skinnyness... I agree I dont like the wheel rim either...

[Joshua]

Yeah...I don't like the stock wheel either.....too thin and too big in diameter.....

[bull]

oh no, the princess has found a pea under all the mattresses !
    just kidding bull...

[PocketThunder]

doesnt matter if you like the wheel or not since you dont drive your car anyways... does it?      

[Khyron]

doesnt matter if you like the wheel or not since you dont drive your car anyways... does it?      

wow! 

[Dans 68]

The steering wheel. It's too thin. Maybe I've gotten too used to the modern steering wheels that have some meat to them but whenever I grab the wheel in my '68 I start thinking of ways to make it fatter.

Anyone feel like posting pics of how they've done this, from covers to aftermarket wheels? Am I alone with this complaint?

Not alone, but close....      

I like my "thin" wheel. I believe that it is part of the heritage of the car. All I'm going to do with my steering wheel is to get it restored. I like my wheel....
Bottom line...do it how you like. 

Dan

[Hemidog]

Bull, how about this one: 

[Charger_Fan]

Mine's had a non-stock wheel since I've owned it, and it'll probably stay non-stock.
However, the current Grant wheel I've got is too small for my taste. I need to find one that's maybe 2" larger in diameter & hopefully in leather.

[PocketThunder]

Mine's had a non-stock wheel since I've owned it, and it'll probably stay non-stock.
However, the current Grant wheel I've got is too small for my taste. I need to find one that's maybe 2" larger in diameter & hopefully in leather.

How cool is that!  your steering wheel and you have the same name..?..??                          

[Charger_Fan]

Mine's had a non-stock wheel since I've owned it, and it'll probably stay non-stock.
However, the current Grant wheel I've got is too small for my taste. I need to find one that's maybe 2" larger in diameter & hopefully in leather.

How cool is that!  your steering wheel and you have the same name..?..??                          

I only caved in & got that one because I couldn't find any decent looking Paul wheels.

[Khyron]

Mine's had a non-stock wheel since I've owned it, and it'll probably stay non-stock.
However, the current Grant wheel I've got is too small for my taste. I need to find one that's maybe 2" larger in diameter & hopefully in leather.

How cool is that!  your steering wheel and you have the same name..?..??                          

and they both need 2 more inches 


sorry, couldn't help it 

[Lowprofile]

The steering wheel. It's too thin. Maybe I've gotten too used to the modern steering wheels that have some meat to them but whenever I grab the wheel in my '68 I start thinking of ways to make it fatter.

Anyone feel like posting pics of how they've done this, from covers to aftermarket wheels? Am I alone with this complaint?

I think you should stop whining like a little biotch and just drive the damn thing.


btw....If it was Good enough for Bill Hickman, I'm sure its good enough for you. 

[chargerrt]

If it was Good enough for Bill Hickman, I'm sure its good enough for you. 

^^^Haahaha that's a good line!

I really like the steering wheel on autodynamic's Overcharged.  I've been dabating between that one and a restored woodgrain steering wheel for mine

[Joshua]

and they both need 2 more inches 

WHOA ...
Didn't know this place was THAT kinda place.......

[Khyron]

WHOA ...
Didn't know this place was THAT kinda place.......

[bull]

Great, now I have to add PocketThunder and Lowprofile to the list of people I plan on assaulting when I meet them. What is PocketThunder anyway? Is it the title of one of your many gay porn films? Lowprofile told me that you and he watch a lot of it together.

[Joshua]

PocketTHUNDER?
Is that like HARDCORE pocketPOOL? With major TECH?

[Dans 68]

Great, now I have to add PocketThunder and Lowprofile to the list of people I plan on assaulting when I meet them.

Um, you don't have any 383 4-spd guys on that list, do ya? 

Dan

[PocketThunder]

Low!  i thought that was between us man...  Who else have you told?    






Does Ponch know yet?

[Charger_Fan]

This thread took a strange turn somewhere back there...



...whaddya think about this nice little crab?




(BTW, this is a fun day here you guys, I haven't laughed this much in way too long.)

[Blown70]

MY lord the girl has got............ a long index finger.....

[bull]

Great, now I have to add PocketThunder and Lowprofile to the list of people I plan on assaulting when I meet them.

Um, you don't have any 383 4-spd guys on that list, do ya? 

Dan

Not yet. Those guys all seem to have their heads screwed on right.

This thread took a strange turn somewhere back there...

...whaddya think about this nice little crab?

(BTW, this is a fun day here you guys, I haven't laughed this much in way too long.)

PocketThunder knows all about little crabs.

[69chargeryeehaa]

i put this wheel on my 69 charger r/t: http://www.grantproducts.com/pc-18-3-classic-model.aspx

awesome wheel, exact same dish and diameter as a stock charger wheel, and it's nice and thick, wood wheel, very high quality and they sell a adapter kit for the charger that works great, easy install.. 

[Khyron]

it's nice and thick, wood

[Death1970Proof]

This thread took a strange turn somewhere back there...



...whaddya think about this nice little crab?




(BTW, this is a fun day here you guys, I haven't laughed this much in way too long.)

That is a very pretty girl...with HUGE......talents! 

[blackcharger]

This thread took a strange turn somewhere back there...



...whaddya think about this nice little crab?




(BTW, this is a fun day here you guys, I haven't laughed this much in way too long.)

That is a very pretty girl...with HUGE......talents! 

I sure don't see no crab,just a whole lota somt'n

[1969chargerrtse]

This thread took a strange turn somewhere back there...



...whaddya think about this nice little crab?




(BTW, this is a fun day here you guys, I haven't laughed this much in way too long.)

What little crab?

[rt green]

i lke the old '500' steering wheel. i have that one in all my old cars. doesnt seem to steer so fast with a smaller one than stock.

[hemihead]

So you like the Corvette Tail lights ? 

[Dans 68]

So you like the Corvette Tail lights ? 

All us '68 owners like 'em.   

Dan

[bull]

So you like the Corvette Tail lights ? 

All us '68 owners like 'em.   

Dan

I think he meant real Charger taillights.

[Dans 68]

So you like the Corvette Tail lights ? 

All us '68 owners like 'em.   

Dan

I think he meant real Charger taillights.

Yes, Bull is correct. I like my uniquely real Charger taillights. Otherwise I probably would have just bought one of those pretty DOH cars. 

Dan

[kylem4711]

Bull, how about this one: 

damn,i was gonna do that

[sick dawg]

So you like the Corvette Tail lights ? 

All us '68 owners like 'em.   

Dan

I think he meant real Charger taillights.

Yes, Bull is correct. I like my uniquely real Charger taillights. Otherwise I probably would have just bought one of those pretty DOH cars. 

Dan

[hemihead]

 I meant your Corvette inspired tail lights   

[charger_mike75]

I thought mine was too thin too, so I cured it with a steering wheel cover 

[Lowprofile]

Low!  i thought that was between us man...  Who else have you told?    






Does Ponch know yet?

I never told anyone bro......    btw, Ponch always knows all the trash going on around here.

I wonder if bull has a pair of "Bill Hickman" Black framed glasses and driving gloves?   

[bull]

I wonder if bull has a pair of "Bill Hickman" Black framed glasses and driving gloves?   

I wish. Those things are badass.

How about one of these old school aftermarket wheels?

[Hemidog]

It's a comfy wheel. 

[Jonas_N]

It's a comfy wheel. 

Yeah, planning to get me one of those.
The original to me feels like driving a tractor.

[MoParMetal]

I wonder if bull has a pair of "Bill Hickman" Black framed glasses and driving gloves?   

I wish. Those things are badass.

How about one of these old school aftermarket wheels?

holy crap thats my steering wheel!
down to the button!

[bull]

FYI I changed my mind on this issue after finally driving the 68 more than 900 yards. I like the steering wheel just fine.

[Dans 68]

...and it only took a bit over 5 and a half years for this thread to come to a full (skinny) circle.   

Dan

[bull]

It may have taken me longer than it should have but I'm happy to have (mostly) completed a task many people can't, won't or refuse to even attempt.

[Dans 68]

I was just "humorously" (I thought) referring to your steering wheel revelation.    And you are absolutely right about the entire project.   

Dan

[A383Wing]

I didn't like the thin wheel on my 70..so I wrapped it with one of them auto part wheel covers...

much better

[bull]

I was just "humorously" (I thought) referring to your steering wheel revelation.    And you are absolutely right about the entire project.   

Dan

It's all good. I wasn't trying to call you out.

While on the topic of steering wheels, I learned that apparently there aren't many alignment shops in my area that know how to align Mopar steering wheels. I mentioned this elsewhere but guys from two of the most respected alignment shops in town told me I need to pull the wheel and take a hacksaw to my deadlink so I can install the wheel wherever I want. After my $55 alignment was finished the wheel was still about 90-degrees off.

[el dub]

Don't know how much work you want to do but can't you disconnect the coupler from the gear, straighten the wheel and put it back on?

[bull]

Don't know how much work you want to do but can't you disconnect the coupler from the gear, straighten the wheel and put it back on?

There's a dead link there too. There is a procedure for aligning the wheel that involves the adjustment of the tie rod sleeves during the front end alignment process. Unfortunately I didn't know about it until after I left the shop. I don't feel too bad though since the alignment shops knew nothing about it either.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,105584.0.html

[1974dodgecharger]

bull, your too funny man.....great thread man.  

I do believe its too thin myself I get hand cramps for it being to small in circumferance.  I want a thicker one myself....

maybe:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190892738154?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_2096wt_1363
or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-69-Charger-Dart-Coronet-Grant-Wood-Steering-Wheel-Walnut-15-chrome-spokes/131060849305?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D3110329875846241171%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D200985396649%26#ht_413wt_1125

[bill440rt]

Don't know how much work you want to do but can't you disconnect the coupler from the gear, straighten the wheel and put it back on?

There's a dead link there too. There is a procedure for aligning the wheel that involves the adjustment of the tie rod sleeves during the front end alignment process. Unfortunately I didn't know about it until after I left the shop. I don't feel too bad though since the alignment shops knew nothing about it either.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,105584.0.html

Bingo. 

[6pkrtse]

The steering wheel. It's too thin. Maybe I've gotten too used to the modern steering wheels that have some meat to them but whenever I grab the wheel in my '68 I start thinking of ways to make it fatter.

Anyone feel like posting pics of how they've done this, from covers to aftermarket wheels? Am I alone with this complaint?

I agree. on longer road trips my hands will cramp up sometimes holding on to the wheel once in awhile. I usually find myself two fingering it from one of the spokes.

[Bob T]

Mines got one of those black perforated vinyl covers with the black piping holding it together, it gives it more thickness and feels better on long trips than the previous 68 did. While its not my favorite wheel, its also the one that it left the factory with and all the previous owners that did the 100,000 miles in it got by just fine so I can too.

I do have some Bill Hickman type glasses though, real 60's vintage green Polaroid's,  they were my Fathers and they live in the console 

[HeavyFuel]

I was just "humorously" (I thought) referring to your steering wheel revelation.    And you are absolutely right about the entire project.    

Dan

It's all good. I wasn't trying to call you out.

While on the topic of steering wheels, I learned that apparently there aren't many alignment shops in my area that know how to align Mopar steering wheels. I mentioned this elsewhere but guys from two of the most respected alignment shops in town told me I need to pull the wheel and take a hacksaw to my deadlink so I can install the wheel wherever I want. After my $55 alignment was finished the wheel was still about 90-degrees off.

I'm trying to follow what you are saying....and this topic was covered in several other threads as well....but I can't figure for sure where your problem  is coming from.    

I don't remember the exact way my steering gear, pitman, column, wheel, tie rod ends all went together, but the sequence was probably what my feeble brain could regurgitate at the time.

But if memory serves:
1.   Engine built on stand (like you did), steering gear was on the K Frame, with the front suspension on, but no tie rods yet.
2.   Dropped body over engine assy.
3.   Added front tires/wheels, torsion bars, set ride height.
4.   Put on Pitman arm....it's keyed to the gear shaft, right?......can only have one position.    Maybe not, I may have eyeballed it.
5.   With the gear shaft positioned with the key notch on the on top   , install the steering column and the column shaft should be keyed to the gear shaft....I think.  
6.   Inside the car, I think the column shaft is keyed so the steering wheel only goes on one way.
7.   With the steering wheel on and straight, and with the tires/wheels aligned by sight as much as possible, attach the tie rods and ends.

My garage eyeball alignment ended up really close, and on the first drive the steering wheel was straight and the car drove straight.   I considered not even taking it to the alignment shop.  But I did, and it was still straight when they got done.



Where do you think you went wrong?   Or you had it straight and they made it crooked?

[bull]

After seeing some pics of my car prior to restoration I noticed the steering wheel was in a similar position to where it is now sothe mistake has been made before. Yes ther pitman arm can go on only one functional direction; same goes for the dead link in the steering shaft at both top and bottom. Anyway, when I put the front end back together I just centered the adjusting tubes and hoped for the best. Obviously, centered adjusting tubes does not always result in a centered steering wheel so now the wheel needs to be aligned by manipulating the two adjusting tubes on either side of the tie rod. Doing that while correcting the front end should make everything right.