Steering wheel fitment

[vujade]

does anyone know what Porsche Steering wheels will fit on a 71 1302?

I am interested in fitting a Porsche wheel because they are larger then most of the aftermarlket steering wheels out there (13"-14")

Prefer something (14.5"-15") in diameter.

[NYBugman1972]

I have a hunch a 924/944 will fit. Not sure, though.

[Philippe]

Check out Trevor Brady's website, I think he used to run a 924 steering wheel. He had to modify it though, removing the boss and replacing it with a stock beetle boss. Maybe he'll chime in here and explain it.


http://www.geocities.com/trevorbrady/

[trevorbrady]

chime!!!

I think the splines on the Porsche 924/944 wheel is the same as a post '73 beetle, super or otherwise. My car is a June '73 model, so has the same spline as the earlier beetles.
Since the 924 wheel I used and the 4 spoked wolfsburg crested VW wheel I had originally in my bug were both of similar construction, I was able to grind off the brass rivets that hold the collapsible portion of my the wheels from the actual "spoked" bit of the wheel and swap them for each other. Then I just used 10mm head M6 bolts and nuts to secure the collabsible VW section to the spokes of the Porsche wheel. They were the exact same pattern. I then welded the bolts and nuts on, just to be sure, by nylock nuts would do the job too. Replace all the plastic coverings and horn push and it looks factory!!

BTW, the Porsche wheel had VW/Audi logos moulded into the back of it, so was obviously manufactured by them...

[Chris Percival]

I have a 924 wheel on my 73, which is early splined (not small/golf).

http://www.spice50.freeserve.co.uk/vw/1303/wheel.jpg

Larger boss size means I can't get fast wiper speed, so its not a bug boss. Trevor, was this the wheel you used?

[trevorbrady]

no, mine was different. I'll post a pic in a few mins...

[trevorbrady]

my original wheel:
http://www.ufo.ie/trev/bare-interior.jpg

the Porsche wheel before I removed it from the 924:
http://www.ufo.ie/trev/924dash.jpg

[Chris Percival]

Hmm interesting wheel, I have never seen one like that before. I have to admit I am not sure what mine came off, I think it was a 924 or a 944. Maybe it was an early one?

[vujade]

trevor, I have seen your type of wheel before.
chris, I have not seen your type of wheel before.

So if I have to have a 73 or later steering columm, what would it entail to swap one into my 71. Anyone have anyexperience with this conversion?

[trevorbrady]

if it's a standard bug, it should just bolt in I think. Dunno about the 1302/3 beetles though... sorry :)

[zen]

no_h20 just dealt with some of this. i don't remember all of the specifics, but he has a '72 1302 and was trying to get a GTI wheel on it. he swapped shafts to ge the splines right, but then it interfered with the wiper switch. maybe he will jump in here or you can email him via the directory.

i ended up going with a momo wheel (since i am doing momo all over my interior) that porsche used in the GTR. ok, so i went a little on the cheap approach here. the real porsche embossed wheel was over $350. momo makes it with just thier logo for $144. so i did that with a porsche horn button. here it is...

http://store2.yimg.com/I/ltbmotorsport_1715_454363

but, vujade, we already have the same rims, and i am going silver metallic paint (not sure about you), and we live somewhat close together, so.... :)

btw, really like the 3 spoke porsche wheel above. looks better than i had ever imaged. love the feel of those too. i miss my 912. :( i think the padded dash (and having one for that matter) makes a big difference.

[vujade]

I am not painting the car silver!
I was going to paint the 67 Silver, not the 02.

The 02 will be painted either Porsche Blood Yellow or Porsche Amethyst Metalic.

I am leaving towards the latter. :)
Not sure though, but definitely not silver on the 02!

[super vw]

you can use the 3-spoke, you just have to "slightly" bend the arm out a little (dont break it). thats what i did to make it work :)

[zen]

blood yellow is sweet. love that color. not sure i know what the amethyst looks like.

[vujade]

Amethyst (http://www.superbeetlesonly.com/members/2/frenchy.html)

[zen]

sweet. very much like the color of a vr6 corrado i used to have. it looked black until it was in direct sunlight and then you could see the color. it was more of a plum, but VW called it burgundy. '92 color.

[NO_H2O]

If you need to go with a small (74 up) spline in your early 1302 the shaft is a drop fit. I was going to use a GTI wheel so I put a 74-up shaft in and everything worked untill I put the wiper ****ch assy. in then the wheel hit the wiper switch arm (the taper on that wheel is too wide). I put the 73-down shaft back in and put a nice wrap(leather) on it for now. I will be looking for another wheel and I can go with either size spine, will just have to lift the fuel tank to make the swap(the "U" joint is under the tank).
:silly: