Steering wheel, mirror, and general aesthetics (black on black)

I like the red interior personally in a black but don't wear shorts in a black on black convertible (you're in the Phillipines?)

As far as the banjo steering wheels, the 2 spoke can be a bit flimsier in support than the 3 spoke but again, a personal choice as far as looks to me.

Black exterior and black interior can be okay:

http://www.speedsters.com/sm-speedster.htm

I second that!

So many options... And each of them highly personal based on specific taste and budget.

here is one alternative... ISP west sells complete conversion pkgs new. 

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/cl...etail.php?id=1899358

Often times cheaper to source each part used... But requires more time...  So again a personal cost benefit analysis.   A true Madness!!!

good luck...

btw- I personally like your black on red Interior.  

I like the red seats too. I agree on the steering wheel. Personally I'd go with one of these moto lita or Derrington knock-offs. They look just right in a 356 and will adapt easily to your hub. I am also a fan of the plain 4-spoke "sprint car" style wheels. which are about as blingless as they go and (see below) would probably bolt right up.

Two-bar banjo style wheels are getting pretty dear. Someone on The Samba had an early Beetle wheel listed recently for like $500, I think. And then there;s the matter of matching it to whatever you have now.

As for adaptors, the 6-hole ones like yours are either Momo or Nardi (the spacing is very close but not quite the same, as this adaptor illustrates). Yours is probably Nardi. Most wheels on VW-based kits will have the ubiquitous early 3-hole Grant mount underneath that (as that adaptor illustrates). So when you get an aftermarket wheel, you tell them what you're adapting to: either the Grant 3-hole or your original column, which you will have to pull the wheel off to be sure what it is. Once you know what you have it's usually a simple matter to adapt virtually any aftermarket steering wheel to the hub.

BUT: If you're hankering to affix an original equipment wheel, you'll likely have to do some work. Some are splined. Some are keyed, and very few manufacturers' wheels will fit straight-off on anything much else than what it was built for.

All that said, almost anything can be accomplished if you have money or a welder. And sometimes you get lucky and don't need either one. I do recall reading about an enterprising VW bus owner adapting what he thought was a late '40s Ford banjo wheel to his ride. Just took a little filing, as I recall.

Lfepardo posted:

So many options... And each of them highly personal based on specific taste and budget.

here is one alternative... ISP west sells complete conversion pkgs new. 

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/cl...etail.php?id=1899358

Often times cheaper to source each part used... But requires more time...  So again a personal cost benefit analysis.   A true Madness!!!

good luck...

btw- I personally like your black on red Interior.  

I would buy this in a heartbeat and move on to the next thing. Unfortunately they no longer have stock.

edsnova posted:

I like the red seats too. I agree on the steering wheel. Personally I'd go with one of these moto lita or Derrington knock-offs. They look just right in a 356 and will adapt easily to your hub. I am also a fan of the plain 4-spoke "sprint car" style wheels. which are about as blingless as they go and (see below) would probably bolt right up.

Two-bar banjo style wheels are getting pretty dear. Someone on The Samba had an early Beetle wheel listed recently for like $500, I think. And then there;s the matter of matching it to whatever you have now.

As for adaptors, the 6-hole ones like yours are either Momo or Nardi (the spacing is very close but not quite the same, as this adaptor illustrates). Yours is probably Nardi. Most wheels on VW-based kits will have the ubiquitous early 3-hole Grant mount underneath that (as that adaptor illustrates). So when you get an aftermarket wheel, you tell them what you're adapting to: either the Grant 3-hole or your original column, which you will have to pull the wheel off to be sure what it is. Once you know what you have it's usually a simple matter to adapt virtually any aftermarket steering wheel to the hub.

BUT: If you're hankering to affix an original equipment wheel, you'll likely have to do some work. Some are splined. Some are keyed, and very few manufacturers' wheels will fit straight-off on anything much else than what it was built for.

All that said, almost anything can be accomplished if you have money or a welder. And sometimes you get lucky and don't need either one. I do recall reading about an enterprising VW bus owner adapting what he thought was a late '40s Ford banjo wheel to his ride. Just took a little filing, as I recall.

Woah.. that's a wealth of info.. Thanks - okay now I understand a bit better. I had assumed manufacturers were using a universal, or similar model. Wrong.

I'm not a fan of the Nardi wheels - most of them look like my mothers Cherry wood furniture, just doesn't jibe with the car - tho I understand this is classic. I do like the older looking (less glossy) wood in more humble shades.. However I'd really like to find one in ebony wood, (love black) - that subtle charcoal shade would be fantastic. Guess I could strip it and do it myself.

I don't mind spending a few bucks - up to $500 for the right wheel (if it includes the install kit and button) Just want something ready to rock and roll. Will probs just go with the banjo, but will always be a little sad I didn't go for something more unique. I'm not loving the metal work - reminds me of hot rod meets Elvira.

Now looking to replace my Shifting column  and emergency break -

http://shop.vintagespeed.com.t.../category.27/it.C/.f

looks like a good break set..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/1...ps&ul_noapp=true

looks like a pretty basic black brake - as always it's tough to understand what all i need to order from the states, ship over to the Philippines for my mechanic. - just the break?  or the two wires etc etc. Also - I wanted to find a leather wrapped brake handle - but maybe this can be custom made here.

BTW - the slotted wheels are great, and reasonable price.. again - if i could strip, stain and finish it - would do this.

Not so much crazy about the 4 arm banjo - though i did run across some wheels where the arms were more like 'X's - which was pretty cool.

So far, this is the front runner:

$275 + whatever I need to install it (they're not answering email)

https://www.carid.com/gt-perfo...wheels-82658984.html

What's that emblem on the center of your dash?  From this distance, looks like an IM badge.

I too like the red with black. Burgundy also looks cherry with black cars.

@Blackrice , many retailers carry the Flat-4 banjo steering wheel.  The ISP add is just one representative company who pkgs the kit together... Which shows you the various parts you would need., including reference manufacturer part numbers  Others do as well.. cip1, Sierra Madre, kustomwarehouse1, etc...  Do a google search and you may find a local shop near you, save you on the shipping. I'm on business travel in Prague, and a quick Google search identified two shops within a cab ride of my hotel that had the part in stock... You may get lucky and find something near you.

its a common part.  Also remember, out of stock now does not mean out of stock in 2-4-6 weeks...  Most of these shops do re-stock popular parts.

good luck.

Blackrice (great handle, by the way), there's a Taiwanese guy named Chung who makes and sells a perfect re-do of the VDM two-spoke 356A steering wheels.

He makes one that fits Porsche steering columns and one which fits VW steering columns. They both run around $800 (a steal, check out the price of real ones!)

He makes them in ivory or black

Here's a link to one of his ads on the Samba: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/cl...etail.php?id=2028234

Interesting, thanks

@nesta Do you realize this thread is 3.5 years old?

@DannyP posted:

@nesta Do you realize this thread is 3.5 years old?

Yes, I am newbie here so all topics are new for me.

I want to change my steering wheel (Nardi with black spokes now) and I´m looking for info, advices, shops, etc

I´d like to mount steering rack and wheel steering in white as "original" as the orginal was.

Thanks

@Will Hesch posted:

Blackrice (great handle, by the way), there's a Taiwanese guy named Chung who makes and sells a perfect re-do of the VDM two-spoke 356A steering wheels.

He makes one that fits Porsche steering columns and one which fits VW steering columns. They both run around $800 (a steal, check out the price of real ones!)

He makes them in ivory or black

Here's a link to one of his ads on the Samba: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/cl...etail.php?id=2028234

I bought one of those and installed it in my car a couple of years ago. I had to switch the steering column to an early oval window VW unit because the splines are different and even then we had to modify it further to make it fit. He also offers a new repro steering column and tube, might be worth it to get everything from him at once to save yourself some time modifying an old column. The guy is great to deal with; he's in Thailand.

What a great look, @Impala!

@Stan Galat posted:

What a great look, @Impala!

Thank you sir; just trying to get close to the originals...😉

@Impala posted:

Thank you sir; just trying to get close to the originals...😉

Love, love, love your wheel and column, @Impala!
How much do you think you have into that setup, including the new column?

@Cory McCloskey posted:

Love, love, love your wheel and column, @Impala!
How much do you think you have into that setup, including the new column?

Thank you; the column I got used for $150 on the Samba. The steering wheel was approximately $900-$1000. The horn button was $160 and then I had to get the horn brushes and a bushing that fits on the column. In labor I can’t ascertain the exact amount because it was done by a friend aling with other things.

@Impala posted:

Thank you; the column I got used for $150 on the Samba. The steering wheel was approximately $900-$1000. The horn button was $160 and then I had to get the horn brushes and a bushing that fits on the column. In labor I can’t ascertain the exact amount because it was done by a friend aling with other things.

Thanks, @Impala!
Really appreciate the info!
It'll help all of us who might be considering such a beautiful move!

You’re very welcome, sir! By the way; forgot to add the turn signal switch, which I had to but also; not too expensive.