Interior: Steering wheel dish measurements - Avanti

[firestoper 25]

1963-64 Avanti, I need the stock steering wheel dish or depth dimension. I looked around and found all kinds of data on the unit but not the dish value. My car does not have the stock Studebaker wheel (which I like - I can not figure why the PO removed it). The current wheel is in need of replacement and I like the stock driving position. Thanks for the help folks.

[Bud]

Are you looking for an original wheel or trying to find something that is close? I have a 63 Avanti with the original wheel, but you will have to tell me exactly what dimensions you are looking for. Bud

[firestoper 25]

Thanks for the help Bud. I am looking for the amount that the rim is pulled out from where the hub of the center of the wheel is. The old cars had flat steering wheels no dish, think Ford model A, then safety comes along and we started having dished wheels, think 63 Corvette and how the rim is pulled back towards the drivers chest (about a 4 inch dish). So if you lay a straight edge across your stock Avanti wheel rim and measure down to the horn button I am guessing it would be about 2 inches. The wood wheel that is on my car now has a little over 2 1/4 inches from the rim to the horn button.
Thanks for the help !

[Bud]

I'm showing 2.25 inches from the horn button to the rim of the steering wheel. Bud

[firestoper 25]

Thanks Bud, that is what I need !

[Bud]

You're welcome

[bensherb]

I'm thinking the better measurement would be from the face of the wheel rim to the base of the wheel where it meets the steering column bell John. The Avanti like steering wheel I made for my Hawk is only 1" from the face of the rim to the horn button but 4" from the rim face to the steering column bell. I tried to make the dish the same as the original Hawk steering wheel. Just a thought.

[firestoper 25]

Yup, your right ! My initial question was the start of my project to see what my options will be, as I am WWII size I can work around the wheel to seat body room. As it sits now with the Grant wood type wheel ( it's a homely thing - 14 " OD x 1 1/8" D grip x 2 3/4" dish with appx. 5" length from column adapter bottom to steering wheel rim face.
Now for the interesting parts - I have always liked the look of your interior, it is as my mother would say "tasteful..VERY tasteful", plus it's functional ! I especially like the blue leather grip area and the two slotted wheel spokes combined with the stock wheel center / horn button. With the two spoke system a clear view of the instruments is assured and the wheel still is solidly functional with out the tri or four spoke styles problem of the spokes being obstacles for your fingers while turning. Form follows function.
If you look at a 1963 Corvette steering wheel and do a comparison to your wheel, the Vette is a tri spoke (well I can't have it all !) but it does have your slotted spokes. Well guess who scored a big find from his car club, me, a 1963 Corvette RED color steering wheel (a late 1/2 year option I have been told & one in awful condition is on E bay for ONLY $ 460 + $ 40 shipping) which is real close color wise to my Regal Red Avanti interior and the transaction price was $ 50 !!
The dish is 4 " so it would fall within the location of my current wheel if I can short adapt it to the column spline and get ride of the Grant system yet still keep the turn signal function. The Avanti center cover mounting is going to give me fits, I am afraid.
One last question, is your horn button functional or are you using something else ?
Thanks for your ideas and help.

[bensherb]

One last question, is your horn button functional or are you using something else ?
Thanks for your ideas and help.

Yes, the center cap from the original horn "ring" is my horn button. It presses against a tiny momentary switch that I built into my wheel mounting assembly. There are also three small springs under the center cap to force it's return after being pressed on to activate the horn. The center cap is retained by an o-ring so it "snaps" into the wheel horn cap retainer, which is turned from aluminum billet, and there is a small hole in the bottom of that retainer to insert a tiny screwdriver into in order to pop the center cap out if needed. The bolt mounting pattern is the same as your Grant wheel so it will fit any column with a grant adapter, but I made my adapter. My column is a '69 GM tilt unit. The rim of my wheel is an oval, 15 7/8" x 17 1/8". It's the actual rim from a REALLY rough Studebaker wheel like the one my car came with. The center w/spokes is made from 3/16" thick 303 stainless steel plate.

Before making my steering wheel, I almost bought a GM wheel similar to your corvette wheel. I was told it was used from the mid 60's- mid 70's in sporty versions of cars like Chevelle's, Camero's and such. It was nice and cheap enough, but at the time I wasn't sure it would fit any of the columns I had. Once I got home I wished I had bought it; even though I have boxes of various steering wheels already.

BTW, that Corvette wheel should be 4 1/16" deep and 16" diameter. My wheel, just the wheel itself, is 2 1/2" deep.

[firestoper 25]

Ah, thanks...now I have even more good ideas to chew on. Does your transplanted column have the collapsible feature during a crash ? I have worked way too many accidents where the driver died due to that darn solid spear.

[Paul Keller]

Some car builders get around using a collapsible column by separating the existing column from the steering box, then offsetting the column an inch or so from the box center-line, then, using a u-joint to allow for the offset and to make up for the difference in the "reach"of the column. The offset needs to clear the steering box (in event of a collision).
paultk

[firestoper 25]

Thanks Paul, that is a clever solution I never thought about. I have a new old stock Avanti column and my 'burned to toast' Avanti column to play around with this winter. I surmise a solution is going to be in the works.

[bensherb]

No John, My '69 GM pickup truck column is not a collapsible one, well, it may be partially. The inner shaft is but the outer tube is not, but it is connected to the box via a U-joint. It could potentially move out of the way in a crash. The column we put in my dads '53 Coupe is collapsible though, I believe it came out of a AMC Ambassador. It's a GM column though, identical to mine but with a collapsible outer tube. About a 8" section of the outer tube has diamond shaped cutouts , like expanded metal does. I'm guessing they didn't use the perforated tube in the trucks because you could see it in them and it looks bad.

[firestoper 25]

Ok, thanks, all this data is filling out my options. Wonder how a column safety improvement will affect / effect the resale (when that time comes) market. Maybe it would be looked upon like the dual master cylinder brake swap-out. Do you have any idea if this is a popular upgrade with the Avanti crowd ?
Nuts, we are getting socked with a snow fall now.....oh well it gives me the reason / time to work out the direction this could take.

[bensherb]

Sorry, I know nothing about how Avanti people think. The last Avanti's I had ANYTHING to do with were on their way to scrap.

From what I've seen in general though; anything that makes an old car more turnkey driveable and comfortable like new cars are increases the market and usually the price if done well.

[firestoper 25]

I completely understand & comprehend ! I am stuck in the 60's and I try to balance keeping the appearance - driving experience as the car was in its era. This sometimes runs afoul of modifications, as certain safety requirements for today's traffic density (and driver skills shortfall) are just common sense. That is assuming sense is still some what common.
I always thought the Avanti was under tired as delivered from the factory, recently I looked over a award winning 63 Corvette with its 7.75 x 14 tires and am rethinking my position. Thanks for your info.