Where can I find a steering wheel that looks something like a Porsche that fits in my IM?
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Do you want something authentic looking or something more like a Nardi or VDM?
What's your price range?
Something authentic looking. Can you get something decent in the $100.00 range?
I'm about to install my windshield, any tips?
Windshield Gordon & I wrote a detailed post, do a search it will guide you
"Something authentic looking. Can you get something decent in the $100.00 range?"
In a word, no. Nice authentic looking wheels are $200-$300 or more.
Who makes the $200.00-$300.00 wheels?
Also, I'm not having any luck getting help from Henry. Are there any other
companies I can contact?
If you want a really special steering wheel, try Mike Lempert:
http://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/wheels
Also, do a search for Nardi Porsche wheels, and you'll find a few suppliers, such as:
http://www.classicowheels.com/porschewheels.htm
Check with Nardi or Moto Lita distributors. Of course prices might have gone up since I last looked. Also, you can check with Mike Lempert (www.lempertwheels.com) for a custom made wheel. His prices are in the $300+ range and he may take a little while, but you can get anything you want.
EDIT: It would help if I'd read the post right above me, huh?
There are Nardi's for sale on ebay. Mostly used, some are real some are..... replicas.
I bought a MotoLita (UK) years ago for my 65 sunbeam tiger..excellent quality. Had to pay shipping and adapter, think it was around $400.
If you're okay with paying around 300.00 - 400.00, Mike Lempert makes a great custom wheel.
Ted
Imho, paying too much for a really cool steering wheel is a good idea. The wrong wheel will bug you. The right one will thrill you, and the $200 or $300 difference will soon be forgotten.
You want a banjo style? Or wood?
I couldn't agree more, Ed. I love my Nardi wheel , and when I bought the car I had never heard of a Nardi wheel. If I could, I would convert my truck and other car to the same wheel, which would not be practical at all. The wheel is , in my opinion, your most personal physical contact with your vehicle. (unless you wear gloves) If you are in love with that freakin' machine, you spend all your driving time fondling that wheel. Try a few and get what you like to hold. If it's a dump truck or a dozer it doesn't matter. This is your baby, $100 plus or minus will not matter if you're happy.
But you knew that. You're already a car guy.
make sure to check on diameter size, I think my nardi was 15" and it was too big so I swapped straight across from a guy mon Ebay for a 14"
Great post on windshield install.
As far as the steering wheel is concerned, I think Nardi is the ticket.
I don't know how many times I've learned about trying to save a few
bucks, then having to go back and by the wheel I wanted in the first place.
Today I installed the rotary fuel pump and eliminated the fuel filters after
the pump. Things are moving along. I'll be driving that thing this spring!
One last thing, and it's going to be a big one. The car came with 944 gauges. I can't imagine the cost of the real things. I have a few old 356 gauges lying around, but they need total rebuilds. What's a ballpark on the switch over?
944 gauges, that's not very common. Mine are 914's, but I'm a CMC and you are a IM , so that must be it. Biggest headache is the size of the dash holes. So measure yours, and think about potential re-glassing the holes?
Beck/Special Edition and another manufacture, (sorry,I forgot) worked a deal with VDO, to re-manufacture the original gauges, with some upgrades I think.. Visit Becks site to review their "new" gauges. I can't afford new gauges , but these look sweet.
When thinking about steering wheels, don't forget to also think about the hub and horn button. Also about wheel diameter (14",15", or the original 17"- too large for most), and grip diameter ( classic 2.4cm, or modern Nardi 3.6cm). Also whether you want a dish or flat wheel... This will impact the spacing between the wheel and blinker arm--- and possibly the size of your hub or requirement for spacers.
in my mad mad mad search for the right wheel I whent from an ivory Banjo 16" with ISP hub as delivered new from VS, to a
2) Mike Lempert 15" flat Nardi style with inlay wheel (ISP 6 bolt hub, 13/4" spacer and JPS P horn button adaptor ),
3) an ISP West 15" diameter Moto Lito with tear drop cut outs (1" dish, 9 bolt pattern, with custom hub and horn holder, and Black horn button). This they sell as a kit (wheel, hub, horn button holder and horn button) for 399$. Awesome wheel and custom hub/ horn button holder.... And finally, soon to be installed..
4) a 2nd Mike Lempert, 9 bolt, VDM style dark finish, 2 lighter inlay stripes in the front and inlaid rivets on the back, thin cut out 15" flat wheel to fit into my custom ISP west 9 bolt hub and horn button holder, with Black horn button, using a 1/2" spacer to bring the flat wheel a little closer to me and give me 3" between the wheel and blinker arm.
all wheels have the classic thin 2.4cm diameter grip. I tried the larger 3.6cm grip of the wood Nardi, and it felt to much like a modern car to me..
... There is no right answer... Just the right one for you.
im including pictures of the banjo, Lempert #1, and Motolito w/ their custom hub. Lempert #2 has yet to be installed.
banjo, almost 16", ISP west hub-
#1 Lempert, 15" flat, ISP west 6 bolt hub punted Ivory, and polished spacer, JPS horn button holder --
moto lito 15" wheel, ISP west 9 bolt hub/horn button holder-
Moto Lito 15", 1' dish , ISP west 9bolt hub/ horn button holder-
ISP west 9 bolt hub- back view, I painted part of it Ivory --
Lempert #2 was inspired by Anads Lempert VDM wheel ( pictured)... Made to fit the 9 bolt ISP west 9 bolt hub. 
... To many options... Do your research, ask questions, and hopefully you will avoid going through 4 wheels in 3 years like I did ;-). Once I found a hub/ horn combo I liked, it was just a matter of having Mike Lempert make a wheel that had everything I liked about all the other wheels I had gone thought.
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SE & IM worked with VDO to produce modern gauges that look like the original. They are the same diameter as original (other replicas are larger). The technology is updated (e.g. the speedometer is driven off of a GPS module versus a cable. Much better quality than other replicas.
I'd sell your old OEM 356 gauges and use the $ to buy new SE/Beck VDO replicas with sending units. Suspect it would be even money.
All but the last ~2 years of 356 tachometers were cable driven so they'd need total re-gutting and replacing with electrical innards.
A complete rebuild/conversion of 356 gauges will run you about ~1,300$ at either Palo Alto speedometer or North Hillywood Speedometer... New guts, silkscreen new faces, new glass, etc... And 3-4month lead time.
If your holes are 100-105mm you are good. If you have a VS with 110mm holes you will need to either re-glass, or use a larger 911 rubber spacer to hold the gauges in place.
There are a few good discussion/post on this in the archives.
cheers
The depth/ length of the hub, effects, the circumference and clearance, of your legs/knees.
And my final comment of this 5 monkeys and a football is, that I bought a approx. 14.75 " used Nardi, from Japan on eBay. And it will hold it's own against any other choice. Go drive your ride. The car is 50+ years old,. in presentation, why wouldn't the steering wheel not be?
I think I'm just doing the wheel right now. I finally have my momentum up, and I
don't feel like going through all the time and money of the gauges. Between the windshield trim, the wheel and the gauges, I feel like at the beginning again.
I need to find a wheel that I can get quickly with all the bells and whistles to stick
it on. I'm to the point of installing the carpets, bolting in the seats, putting on the
top, and hitting the road. I've been looking at it for 3 years, and I'm dying to drive it.
I like the looks of the Moto Lito 15 ISP w/9 bolts. Is there a long waiting period?
I guess I should contact Nardi, Moto Lito and Becks, and make my move.
Thanks for all the help.
Art, I think you did the right thing. How long will it take to get one, how much
and can I get all the parts easily to put it on?
ashcreek posted:I think I'm just doing the wheel right now. I finally have my momentum up, and I
don't feel like going through all the time and money of the gauges. Between the windshield trim, the wheel and the gauges, I feel like at the beginning again.
I need to find a wheel that I can get quickly with all the bells and whistles to stick
it on. I'm to the point of installing the carpets, bolting in the seats, putting on the
top, and hitting the road. I've been looking at it for 3 years, and I'm dying to drive it.
I like the looks of the Moto Lito 15 ISP w/9 bolts. Is there a long waiting period?
I guess I should contact Nardi, Moto Lito and Becks, and make my move.
Thanks for all the help.
You should ask Lefapardo if he's willing to part with one of those wheels.
ISP web site says they have one Moto Lito style kit available in stock now. Call them, they are in California. When I ordered mine, I received with in the week. Great to work with. http://www.vwispwest.com/AP-3053.html included wheel, adaptor, horn button, and horn button retainer ring. But I'm sure they will steel the stand alone wheel.
aircooled.net also has the volante wheel ,1" dished, in stock , ....same as the Moto Lito, but a little cheaper.... 169$ http://vwparts.aircooled.net/V...-ST3053-p/st3053.htm
Moto Lito -- I just saw several on eBay listed for ~200$ + shipping , most located in the UK, .....but Mrsteeringwheel.com (also in eBay) in Vegas has the flat and dished 15" available for 230$ includes shipping.
The ISP hub/horn adaptor is still my favorite looking hub set up.
bunch of NArdis as well.
what hub do you have? On eBay there are several US companies, (I have ordered billet spacers /adaptors from Forever Sharp Steering wheels before... Another good shop), that sell the Nardi/Momo 6 hole to 9 hole adaptors for ~34$
i unfortunately only have the banjo/hub to sell... ( no horn button)... The Lempert #1 is spoken for , and the ISP is installed in my '62 356 coupe.
cheers
luis
Luis,
Thanks for the research. I found used Nardi on eBay for $209.00 I think I'm going with
that.
My wheel got here in under 2 weeks. The existing hub on my car worked, as the PO had a Momo wheel, 6 hole, that matches Nardi.