Lempert Wheel, which boss and horn button?

I had Mike make my wheel with a Nardi bolt pattern so I could use the same boss. I purchased a spacer on ebay to compensate for non-dished Lempert wheel. I used the same Nardi horn buttun from my original wheel.

Same here.

Okay, so just order a boss and horn button from Vintage/IM/Beck?

T

Ted, did you specify a bolt pattern? The reason I ask is that there is a big difference in diameter between a Nardi/Momo boss and, let's say, a Motolita or Les Leston. You might want to check with Mike to find out what size your wheel's mount plate is and whether or not he has already drilled a hole pattern.

My wheel has a ton of holes. I asked for 6 hole Nardi/Momo boss.

Ted

Then your plan to contact Vintage/IM/Beck should work just fine.

I have a Mike Lempert wheel with a Grant 3 hole adapter (part #3568), I got the 1.5" spacer from Foreversharp (see link below).  First I would check with Mike to see what horm trim ring you have, there is a differance between the Nardi and Momo horn trim ring. The steering wheel probably won't be the problem as they are drilled for a Nardi and Momo adapter. The one I have is still tighter than I would like with the 1.5" spacer.  They do have a 2" spacer but make sure you know what horn trim you have.  I believe Carey at Beck has them as well.

Gary

https://fssteeringwheels.com/#...t-adapter/p/14641982

Mike didn't include a horn trim ring.  

I'll need to follow up with him today to see why that wasn't included. 

I ordered the boss/hub from Vintage. I'm going to order the horn button / trim ring from Carey. Need to spread the financial stimulation around a bit.

Thanks for the advice,

Ted

p.s. 

This reminds me, wasn't there a long drawn out / heated thread about horn buttons?

I can only say what I have as it was on the car when I got it. Mike saw my wheel and told me I have a Nardi trim ring, those are a different pattern than the Momo trim ring. The Mike Lempert wheel is drilled with so many holes is to work with a 6 hold Nardi and Momo, not sure it is used for a 5 hole steering wheel. The Grant adapter is a 3 hole which is important to know. There was more to it than I initially realized. Maybe you have all the parts you need, but Mike can steer (pun intended) you in the right direction.

Gary

This is what my wheel looks like, the horn trim ring (my words) is the piece that covers the horn button.  The horn button is on first, another piece several holes, holds the horn in place, the the horn trim ring with 6 holes attaches everything to the spacer. Hopes this helps.

Gary

Ah, yeah. I always assumed that I'd need to replace the grant hub. My grant hub will be for sale with the grant wheel.

I spoke with Mike. He said he forgot to include it and that he'd send it out immediately. He was pretty embarrassed. I told him not to worry, I forget stuff all the time.

I ordered the hub. Now I need to get a nice horn button. I'll be on the look out. I think Carey offers a nice one. I like what you have gwan. I think it matches the one Lane has.

I need to get back on this car! The parts are piling up around it.

T

Ted, since you're going more "speed racer" with the wheels and all, you might want to forget about the beauty ring. I went without for a while and had like 10 exposed polished stainless steel button head allen bolts. Look in my photo clips.

Ha! Good idea.

I wouldn't say I'm going speed racer. I just liked the wheels. They are an accessory. I can have multiple pair of shoes, just like Marty.

I like the idea running the wheel sans trim ring.

Oh, one thing I was going to ping you about: How long did it take you to get used to the rather thin nature of the wheel!?  I was amazed at how tiny the wheel felt in my hands compared to the Grant. The Grant has some girth. This new wheel feels like I should be driving with silken gloves.

Ted

Ted

The thickness is more "period correct" as well as the 15" diameter. Get a pair of gloves. better for the wheel and you'll look oh...so...Marty.

You guys all ought to be old enough to remember when all car steering wheels were that "thin." As for me, I've never gotten used to the new thick padded steering wheels all modern cars (and most allegedly old school-style aftermarket steering wheels) have. Those dang thick-wood, small diameter Grants look felonious to me: neither fish nor fowl...all foul. 

A 1950s car needs to have a 1950s-looking, and feeling, steering wheel!

They work!

Congrats on your Lempert!

Ted, you'll get used to it. It just looks right and you'll eventually look forward to the feeling of the hand crafted artwork.  Even people that don't know cars want to touch it. 

http://www.leatherglovesonline...es.htm#section=start

If you don't want to be as stylish as Marty, these are the gloves I wear. very comfortable:

http://www.bionicgloves.com/c-9-driving.aspx

Ted,

The skinny rim and large diameter are how they ought to look, but you can just say no to the gloves. Tain't right. 

Gloves are for 50ish degree days, does it get that cold in SoCal?

We'll have to ask Jim. I live in NorCal. Technically the south end of the silicon valley. 

Marty and Terry

Thanks for the glove links. Here is what I'm using now: http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009...tter-to-specialized/

They are my old Mtn Bike gloves. I had them in the garage from 4 years ago. I'm ashamed to say they didn't get much use on the bike, so I figured I'd put them to good use on cold mornings.

After a few years of sitting in the garage, they are a bit 'thread bare'. I'll need to find suitable replacements.

Thanks!

Ted

I just keep exercising my bare-hand Kung Fu grip on the wheel. I wouldn't feel right wearing gloves. Besides, someone might use them to slap me and challenge me to a duel! 

Forgo the gloves and just attach a suicide-nob (with naked lady image) to the wheel and drive like a man!! 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/2...29466&rmvSB=true

You do get used to it, Ted, although it does feel a bit delicate. You just have a lighter grip on the wheel. Ed's right. After a while you look at your wheel and realize the fatter rims don't look as good.

However, I have a couple of fat-rimmed wheels laying around for those days when I want to be a bit more aggressive: an older BMW Momo and a vintage Firebird Trans Am wheel. 

If you're thinking of doing any auto x events you'll want a beefier wheel as the Lempert wheels are a bit fragile.

This is the wheel Terry sold to me. I use it for Auto-X and running the Rubicon Trail! I wear welding gloves when I drive with this big hunk of manly-wheel!

I really dig the quick shifter you added, Jim!

Jimbo, I can't keep up with your upgrades and I'm not certain I want to!

Ted, the delicate wheel is just one of the reasons I got out of this business. I felt gloves were a necessity with the skinny wheel.

That quick shifter shortened the throw at least by a couple of links!

As for 'boss' and 'horn button', I said to the wheel "Wheel, you're not the boss of me….and I got your horn button right HERE! 

Speaking of wheels, I just picked up my new set of chubbies tonight. No gloves needed.

I got tired of my old wool gloves sliding around on the skinny, polished wheel, so picked up a pair of these at REI:

http://www.rei.com/product/852...nimalist-gloves-mens

These are for staying warm, not for styling. They do a good job of that and have a grippy finish that holds the wheel well (probably developed for holding onto ski poles). Velcro cuffs, too.

Once it's in the 50's, I don't need no steenkin' driving gloves. I mean, it's a freakin' Speedster, not an Isotta Fraschini.

Have you checked out the ISP west custom hubs?-- same price as Nardi's

http://www.vwispwest.com/    ---Search for boss, or nardi, or momo... 

They make them to fit a variety of wheels (Nardi/ momo/ etc) and they have a little more flare than the standard Nardi boss.

 Nardi 6 hole- (actually it comes drilled w Nardi and momo.

9 hole, larger diameter with VDM horn adaptor ring-

My Lempert flat wheel, with painted nardi hub to match column and forever sharp 1" spacer- 

 and my other lempert Derrington style, larger diameter boss, painted, '1/2 dish--  I didn't want to use a spacer...

wow. That's a really nice boss/hub. I like how you painted it to match the dash and then modified that to blend into the wheel.

I initially tried to find that boss on the ispwest site before ordering from Vintage.

Maybe I'll run the vintage unit for a bit and then upgrade later.  Thanks for sharing your photos!

Ted

I liked the ISP spacers but they were/are out of stock. Right now I am using a 1.5" & 1" spacer and drilling and threading them so they are joined. Hopefully this experiment will work and I will have 2.5" of clearance between my Mike Lempert wheel and the turn signal. I already had the 1" spacer so the cost will be minimal if my experiment dosent' work out.

Gary

Thanks Ted,

their web takes a little getting used to, but they do make great products. I found that using their search function and using a simple word like "boss" or "spacer" should typically get me on the right track.

i had similar Lempert wheel pattern Qs when I got my wheels---  here's what he told me. 

Mike Lempert typically drills his small hub wheels thigh with both the Nardi. (74mm diameter)  and Momo (71mm D) patterns , so you can use with eirther boss or spacers.

Foreversharp made the cleanest all around spacers I found, and they come in .5", 1", 1.5" and n 2"...  Call their # and ask for Britenei.... She runs their online store and is really helpful.  

 The larger Lampert hub wheels he typically just drills with e specificaly requested pattern.... 

-  Mike was a great guy to work with... I only wish I had more cars s I could have him make more wheels for me... May just order a VDM in a dark finish to hang in my man cave/ shop between the vintage OEM race flags, service tin plaques and miscellaneous parts that decorate my walls,

I do have to admit it was nice having the option of shopping for either Nardi/momo spacers/boss.  I ordered the wheels before the boss/spacers... So having options was a plus... Fortunately ISP and  Foreversharp also drill both Nardi/Momo paterns in all their hardware (regardless of what theit online photos show), so my initial worries of finding an approroate boss/spacer to match either pattern was unwarranted.

i would also recommend the ISP wheel 5x205 spacers, nice material/cut/finish and price...i used a 1/4 spacer to widen my front/rear stance and fill in the wheel well a little better....  They do sell spacers in multiple sizes...  

Please send pictures of the final assembly when you get your wheel in.  Wild love to see it.

Oh, for clearance references...

- The flat Lempert with ISP boss (84mm) and 1" spacer give me a little over 2.5 inches from the blinker switch arm.

- wi the Lempert Derrington large hub wheel with .5" inch dish, and ISP boss, ( no spacers) I have a little under 2.5" of clearance.

cheers,

Luis

That's exactly what I ordered. Are you tracking my cookies/web activity? 

I really wish I had seen your setup before I ordered the boss from Kirk. I'd have jumped at that setup immediately. I couldn't visualize how it would look in practice. I'll get the boss installed and then figure out what (if any?) spacers I need.

Again - I need to stop buying parts and start installing them! 

Ted

I have been tracking your post, but must have missed the wheel post. I have been doing many of the same moDs... Been a busy couple of months, and like you I have a garage full of parts that need instal.  Mangos work has also been a great source of inspiration.  

funny you mention Kirk... When I called Kirk to order a Boss in Dec he was back ordered And didn't know when he would get a new shipment of hubs.   I only discovered ISP when in my ADD type behavior i took my banjo off and saw that the boss he used was etched with the ISP markings. so i looked them up, and presto.... i literally stumbled upon my current set up.  

i'm really happy with Mikes Nardi and Darrington style wheels... But I was really on the fence on the darker VDM...  

Maybe when I get anther coupe to fix up... Two projects are just to much!!!  ( .. Specially foR my wife ;-) )

I haven't posted a photo of it yet. I'll try to get something up tonight.

I wonder if I can return the Nardi boss and just get the ISP with a spacer.

Looking forward to following your progress.

Ted