Will a steering wheel of a 59 356 fit on a 73 beetle column?
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pretty sure not, different splines
Teby knows...
@Former Member
'73 was a change year for VW.
1960-1973 Beetles use a 40 Spline count with 21mm Diameter Shaft.
1974-1979 Beetles use a 40 Spline count 17mm Diameter Shaft.
Can't find listing for the 356 but both Nardi and Momo list different hubs for VW vs Porsche.
this guy: https://www.facebook.com/3spokesteeringwheelbyme/ Chung is his name, makes one that fits the VW steering column.
It's not as elegant as the Porsche model, it has a longer/lower section which acts as the adapter I suppose.
He also makes the Porsche wheel which fits the Porsche steering column, both are at $700, quite a deal.
Thanks gentlemen. It's looking like 356 goes up to A's then changes for the B's and C's. I haven't found any shaft specs though. I might be able to get an original wheel if I play my cards right.
Don, here's a photo of the wheel Chung makes that fits VW's
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Will Hesch posted:this guy: https://www.facebook.com/3spokesteeringwheelbyme/ Chung is his name, makes one that fits the VW steering column.
It's not as elegant as the Porsche model, it has a longer/lower section which acts as the adapter I suppose.
He also makes the Porsche wheel which fits the Porsche steering column, both are at $700, quite a deal.
This will be a future update after I get everything sorted on my build.
I've seen them but always wondered on the quality. Thanks for the feedback.
Will Hesch posted:Don, here's a photo of the wheel Chung makes that fits VW's
Ooooooooo.
That's really, really, (really) nice.
I have one of his wheels sitting on my desk currently. It is artwork!
He's sold a few then so they must be ok
They're more than OK and less than 1/2 the price of other re-pops from SMC or Stoddard or Karman Konnection
If I miss out on the original one that could be me
chines1 posted:I have one of his wheels sitting on my desk currently. It is artwork!
Guess I'm getting a new steering wheel! If Carey says it's artwork, I'm sold 
Will, any idea how much are they with horn ring and postage? Will my repro Porsche horn button work with it? They look great in the picture
Chung says they're $900 with the horn-ring and that includes shipping to the U.S.
If yours is the typical re-pop from SMC or Stoddard, yes, it will fit, perfectly.
Beautiful to look at, but I fear the two spoke version I see here will be too flexible. Had an original on my '56 Coupe, and really did not like it for that reason. and the horn ring broke. But nothing says authentic quite like a banjo . . .
I'm hearing ya. Where do you get a banjo from?
Don Harrison posted:I'm hearing ya. Where do you get a banjo from?
I'll surf around there.
Cheers
Love the video on Chung's facebook page. Very cool craftsmanship.
"Will a steering wheel of a 59 356 fit on a 73 beetle column?"
Assuming that you mean the steering shaft rather than the column . . . DEFINATELY not !
But there are a few ways around it. The 356A wheel will fit on VW splines from 1957 and down I believe, easy to double check.
—You can substitute an early steering shaft for the one in the '73.
—You can substitute the entire steering column/shaft assembly from an Oval Beetle.
—You can also cut the splined section off of your '73 shaft and substitute one from an Oval Beetle.
The pocket at the bottom of the 356A wheel is around 2.5" with the directional housing tampering that down to the 1.5 of the top of the column. Looks elegant !
The opening of the '73 directional housing is 3"leaving a lot of open directional mechanism showing all around the base of the steering wheel, The base cover from an old Grant/Pip adapter will work perfectly to cover this all up and make a semi-smooth treansition from steering wheel to directional housing.
Final option you'd be to just make an adapter to fit the steering wheel to the shaft. Easiest of all.
Well that settles it. In NZ we have huge compliance issues. We have to have a collapsible steering column so rules out the early stuff. to weld a column shaft it has to be certified. Watch a u tube vid on non collapsible columns in an accident and see what happens. You'll all be changing them out in no time.
The splined section of the original wheel is a machined part of the wheel, but the splined section of Chung's wheel seems to be bolted in, so it looks like milling down an existing hub so you can insert just the splined section is an option.
@Don Harrison Yes, sir. It amazes me how many replicas I see with a solid hub adapter and a solid steering shaft, no crush cage, no slip joint, etc... Not that getting into an accident in one of these cars would ever be fun, but the added danger of being impaired by a solid steering shaft is just scary in itself.
If you two could provide some pictures and maybe some links that would be so helpful. I haven't moved on this option for the reason @Tommy Boy stated. Before I'd drop a grand on a steering wheel I have to know how it's going on and how it will all match up... and look! For me it would seem smartest to replace the beetle column with a 356 column if I'm putting a stock wheel on it.
Just took mine apart and the spline is cast into the body and broached (it seems) It DOES NOT remove as I thought...
I think you can still bore out the spline section on your wheel and machine down a later model one and nitrogen freeze it to shrink it and drop it in the hole. Done
Absolutely, with a mill and some skill it can be made to fit whatever spline you like...
Wow, I still think that wheel and the VDM GT that Anand had made are just the right kind of bling for my car. I have an Ididit column with a 6 bolt Nardi hub and I am thinking of trying to get an adapter made to be able to use my existing column and one of those wheels. Any ideas on this one?
Don Harrison posted:I think you can still bore out the spline section on your wheel and machine down a later model one and nitrogen freeze it to shrink it and drop it in the hole. Done
That's some serious Madness there! A solid steering shaft would be like a meat skewer!
Watch some vids, It's not pretty
Ray, I could not figure out why you were complaining about your hub, but I took a look at your IM Photo album and I think that the problem is that the hub over powers the small 6 bolt Nardi horn ring. I think we have the same column, no?
My setup....
Yes Marty, we do have the same steering column but your hub is slightly different and was made to handle the 9 bolt Derrington/Mona lita? set up. I like what I have but I'm dreaming of a VDM GT wheel
Just wondering how sturdy the wheel feels once it is installed.
@chines1 I just emailed the seller and if you send him a colour sample he can make it to match whatever button colour you have ... brings very Interesting options.
I would still need to accommodate the ididit column that I have with a Nardi hub...
It's bound to be flexible, Ray-- just look at it. I think you buy something like that because nothing else will do. On Will's car, I can see it for sure.
You might be better with Anand's wheel. You like that one better, and it's a better wheel.
The whole thing is a microcosm of the entire car. There are way better devices out there for a lot less money. But when a speedster (or banjo wheel) is the only thing that scratches the itch, it just doesn't matter.
The smart money is on something else, not that anybody who wants one cares.
You may be right Stan... sometimes the madness gets to you when you start dreaming about what ifffffff.... then the money flies at more trial and error..
"For me it would seem smartest to replace the beetle column with a 356 column if I'm putting a stock wheel on it."
The early Beetle steering column and shaft (Oval and Split Windows) is pretty much identical to that of a 356 and certainly much more readily available:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/cla...etail.php?id=1925464
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/cla...etail.php?id=1448809
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/cla...etail.php?id=2011091
Add to these a new rubber piece for the clamp. inner top bearing/spacer/blinker assembly and you're well on your way.
If you want to retain the collapsible bottom section of the shaft. just cut it off and weld it onto the other, easy as can be. You can also use your original column tube by just cutting the top off and welding on the early Beetle top section. The steering shafts are both hollow so if you don't weld, you can cut the tops from both and put the early onto the later by driving an insert piece of smaller diameter tubing (or solid) into the top section and drilling and pinning it securely, then drive the pin (and attached top section) into the later shaft. drilling and pinning that together as well.
Simple and secure without the risk of "welders flash," if that's something that frightens you.
Pretty much iron-age tech here. Really couldn't be easier and would take just two or three hours top and most of that would be prep and measuring. This is basic stuff.With a cheap early Beetle shaft and column tube. a few bucks for the blinker assembly and the 356 steering wheel or report. your set-up would look exactly like it came from an original 356. If you kept the "Bat Wing" steering wheel from an oval/split window Beetle, it would look equally as cool and vintage—just not as much original 356.You can also modify the early Beetle steering wheels (they're made of a hardened material rather than the plastic of the later years) to mimic the coach-built or one off wheels of the early German cars. ANYTHING can be done here with great results and not a ton of coin.