29 Smaller Steering Wheel

G

Greg NE Ohio

Junior Member
Anyone experience installing smaller diameter steering wheel on a 28-31 Model A?
What would be minimum size and where to purchase
 
Why would you want to do that?? The steering is already very heavy at low speeds and impossible at a stand still. Steering is by Armstrong and a smaller wheel would only make it harder.
 
My girth has also caused me to seek a smaller diameter wheel. I think someone who come up with a 3" smaller than stock wheel would make a fortune in today's fast food world.
 
ModelA29 said:
My girth has also caused me to seek a smaller diameter wheel. I think someone who come up with a 3" smaller than stock wheel would make a fortune in today's fast food world.
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I think the challenge would be keeping the stock steering column, light switch and horn switch. I'm sure the hot rod enthusiasts do it but replace the steering column as well as the steering wheel.
 
Interesting topic! Let's stop chewing the fat here: Along these lines, Model T discussion forums are rife with threads and classified ads for so-called "Fat Man" steering wheels. Period advertising shows multiple manufacturers, who offered such items for slender-challenged owners. Yet, I don't recall reading anything about these kinds of steering wheels being made available for Model A owners. Was this due to the angle of the steering column in Model T's (virtually hanging into the driver's lap!) versus Model A's? Or did buyers magically become slimmer from the Model T era to the short-lived Model A time frame, where steering wheels catering to the obese crowd were no longer needed? Of course, that question is facetious. But again I ask, why did so many - and I mean MANY - "Fat Man" steering wheels seemingly dominate the Model T market, but were not directed at Model A folks? Have any of you Model A guys seen advertisements for these accommodating steering wheels or have actually owned one? In my many back issues of Model national club magazines that featured articles about Model A accessories, I don't recall seeing a single one directed towards more heavy body cavitus owners.
Marshall
 
ModelA29 said:
My girth has also caused me to seek a smaller diameter wheel. I think someone who come up with a 3" smaller than stock wheel would make a fortune in today's fast food world.
Click to expand...


I don't know much about the roadster but is there any way the driver's seat could be moved back? I have a pickup so there's nothing I can do.
 
interesting topic and I agree- if a slightly smaller whl could be produced that looked original, it would be a hit.


think smaller rims on your car........16 over 19.
 
here is my two cents worth.... i have a friend who wanted a model a for some time. he weighed about 360. i found him a nice older restoration two door sedan, pickups or coups were out of the running. he ordered a set of seat sliders off the internet and with a little tinkering he can now sit comfortably or scoot the seat foreward so his wife can drive. smaller steering wheel sounds like a bad idea, already hard enough to steer.
 
6'1" 265 Coupe was driveable but not comfortable. I made a foam on plywood temp seat that was about 3" shorter and the back about 2" thinner. I bought a Glide seat frame and foam. I got original brown check material and when it's done I'll install it a couple inches further back on sliders in case the wife ever wants to drive it.
 

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Marshall V. Daut said:
Interesting topic! Let's stop chewing the fat here: Along these lines, Model T discussion forums are rife with threads and classified ads for so-called "Fat Man" steering wheels. Period advertising shows multiple manufacturers, who offered such items for slender-challenged owners. Yet, I don't recall reading anything about these kinds of steering wheels being made available for Model A owners. Was this due to the angle of the steering column in Model T's (virtually hanging into the driver's lap!) versus Model A's? Or did buyers magically become slimmer from the Model T era to the short-lived Model A time frame, where steering wheels catering to the obese crowd were no longer needed? Of course, that question is facetious. But again I ask, why did so many - and I mean MANY - "Fat Man" steering wheels seemingly dominate the Model T market, but were not directed at Model A folks? Have any of you Model A guys seen advertisements for these accommodating steering wheels or have actually owned one? In my many back issues of Model national club magazines that featured articles about Model A accessories, I don't recall seeing a single one directed towards more heavy body cavitus owners.
Marshall
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Bob McDorman (Corvette collector, and Chevy dealer) lived near me. He sold his early Corvette that was formerly gifted to John Wayne. The story was that The Duke liked the car, 6 cylinder and all. However, he could never get used to the steering wheel grazing his belly, so he sold it.

I like my A, and drive it a fair amount. However, I have noticed that I drive my streetrod more each year. It is more like driving a modern car, and has all the conveniences except power windows, and air-condtioning. A comfortable car.
 
One option is to move the steering column up. You have to make or modify the bracket and enlarge the holes in the frame. That, in conjunction with the different seat, might do it.
 
Smaller Diameter Steering Wheel discussed on the Barn in 2017............

a 14inch whl would have a heck of an advantage for the more robust in the group. could be sold for 299-325. and a few hundred would prob sell quickly.

whos game?
 
I modified a 1913 Cadillac steringWheel for my 29 open pickup. Works slicker than sliced bread. I am 6 ft 220lbs no problem getting in or out
 
For my cabriolet, I changed the seat bottom from springs to custom fitted foam, I also changed the steering wheel and rolled a new rim about 16 inches diameter and had a new rim cast. The third factor was to install a shorter steering arm to reduce the effort required to turn the wheel. And I switched the steering box to a F-100 Ford.

None of these modifications would be ok if a true restoration was intended; but I just wanted a comfortable car to drive.
 
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This has been addressed previously. Snyders seat maker will build 2” seat springs. This along with taking 3/4” out of the brake and clutch peddels and bending the gear shift shaft to the right an inch allows my 6’2” 71 year old 240 pound body to drive my ‘30 pickup. To enter the cab I do so by backing in all the way to the passenger seat in order to load my legs.
 
At one time I had a restored '29 roadster that I was going to modify the steering wheel. I found an aluminum steering wheel spider on eBay. From what car I have no idea. A wooden '28/'29 Chevy steering wheel rim fit the spider. I had the spider hub machined to fit the 7-tooth steering column.
The car was sold before I fitted the steering wheel. Besides have the wooden rim the steering wheel spider was dished up over 2 inches. Room needed for my "beer muscle" tummy.:p The outer diameter of the wooden wheel was 17". I still have the rim and spider and may see if I can adapt it to my '31 roadster.;)


Bob-A:D
 
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