I am not a fan of the Toyota looking turn signal and hazard posts on my Beck. Has anyone replaced them with something that looks period correct? If so, where did you purchase and how difficult was it?
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You can replace it with anything, and I can provide the basic wiring info, however remember that this unit (and the reason that it was used) was that it has a TON of functions such as; your horn isolation finger that allows you to have your horn in the center of the steering wheel without having a wire flopping around the column (or without having to fabricate another method of horn isolation like an original 356), it provides self parking wipers, it provides hazards, it provides the headlight dimer, and self chancellors for the turn signals. At the very least you'll have to add a hazard switch, rewire the hazards/relay, provide a wiper switch (preferably self parking) and rewire the turn signals, provide a dimmer switch and relay for the headlights and rewire them, and then figure out how to handle your horn. We can also provide most of the dash switches needed, with period correct bezels and knobs, however we do not offer any replacement for the actual turn signal unit. I have not found a quality period correct switch that I am happy with.
It is not easy as no one makes a small column replica or universal column.
There are two after market makers or so, Ididit and another and the center hub portion is much larger than the original.
Also it does come with some options but more hand crafting is needed as the parts are much more GM oriented ie: GM pt # 1997985 is the signal switch guts that they use.
Carey is right a lot of things happen in there and hence the compromise ... unless you get a 944 steering column and fit it somehow but it will still look plastickey.
Some things are not yet available.
FYI, I have the Ididit column on my IM and it works fairly well.
1967 and earlier OEM columns are getting scarce, just the splined shaft and column can easily be over $100 if, you can find a decent one.
You may check out MSW My Steering Wheel. A company out of Thailand that makes reproduction steering wheels and columns.
They only have a presence on Facebook and The Samba. I believe @Lfepardo ordered a steering wheel from them, and could speak to the quality.
If I recall correctly, Greg with Vintage is now using more proper steering columns as well.
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Kevin, I have one of Chung's steering wheels, it's a beauty! I've been saving it for when I have my P-car steering column and shaft installed in Whitecloud.
It's always about money...
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Will. You can install them on a broomstick but a nice horn button and pretend all you want
...you callin' me a witch?
Just kidding Will, I was simply suggesting that you can pretend driving like when you were a child ... by using some sort of stick to hold it, then at least you can get some use out of it till it was installed.
Quality is very good. Price back in early 2018 was 52,953 THB ( Thaiwanese currency). About 38,400thb/ 1,200$ for the wheel & horn ring, and the the balance for the shaft, tube, and the little bits to assemble them ( except the horn button, which I already had.). Not cheap, but it was a one stop shop.
Surprisingly, when it was at a local shop this winter to install the shaft/ redo the electrical to accommodate a traditional blinker switch/ foot high beam set up and install the wheel—- through the shop owner a PCA guy offered me 1,500$ for the wheel, I countered at 1,700$ and he accepted. So I sold it... and ordering a new one is on my to do list. ( since I already have the shaft/horn ring/tube/ blinker assembly and related install parts).... a project for next winter I guess!
Per my old receipt-
steering wheel for Porsche 356 with half horn ring in Ivory /size 400mm. =38,400 THB. ($1,200)
steering shalf + tube in ivory Plus’s any rubber parts, rings = 14,453.12 THB. ($451.66 )
****($1 = 32.00 THB)***
price including shipping / with out Porsche horn button
total price in us.d = $1200+$451.66 =$1,651.66.
paypal accepted.