smaller steering wheel for '65 with manual steering

Hi,

I have a '65 Mustang (200 cu in, 3 speed) with manual steering. The
steering wheel is about 15" or 16" in diameter and leaves little room
above my legs. I'd like to replace the wheel with one that is smaller.
I've seen some in catalogs that are 13"-14" in diameter. However, I
am wondering whether the decrease in size will make steering
significantly tougher when I am doing things like parallel parking that
require small movements by the car and lots of turning.

Does anyone have experience with this issue?

Thanks.

Richard Catrambone wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a '65 Mustang (200 cu in, 3 speed) with manual steering. The
> steering wheel is about 15" or 16" in diameter and leaves little room
> above my legs. I'd like to replace the wheel with one that is smaller.
> I've seen some in catalogs that are 13"-14" in diameter. However, I am
> wondering whether the decrease in size will make steering significantly
> tougher when I am doing things like parallel parking that require small
> movements by the car and lots of turning.
>
> Does anyone have experience with this issue?
>
> Thanks.

It actually makes a big differance. What you have is probably 15". Try a 14"
and see what you think. It is a noticable differance in effort while parking, but
otherwise not an issue.

--
..boB
1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged!
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1965 FFR Cobra - Finally on the Road!

It will be a lot harder! I had lots of experience once with
an old mercury comet with manual everything.
Fred

".boB" > wrote in message
. com...
> Richard Catrambone wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a '65 Mustang (200 cu in, 3 speed) with manual steering. The
>> steering wheel is about 15" or 16" in diameter and leaves little room
>> above my legs. I'd like to replace the wheel with one that is smaller.
>> I've seen some in catalogs that are 13"-14" in diameter. However, I am
>> wondering whether the decrease in size will make steering significantly
>> tougher when I am doing things like parallel parking that require small
>> movements by the car and lots of turning.
>>
>> Does anyone have experience with this issue?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> It actually makes a big differance. What you have is probably 15".
> Try a 14" and see what you think. It is a noticable differance in effort
> while parking, but otherwise not an issue.
>
> --
> .boB
> 1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged!
> 2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
> 1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
> 1965 FFR Cobra - Finally on the Road!
>

Yep... from a first hand observer, back in the day..

You'll be passing up perfectly good parking spots on the street to look
for city lots.

"Fred V." > wrote:

> It will be a lot harder! I had lots of experience once with
> an old mercury comet with manual everything.
> Fred
>
> ".boB" > wrote in message
> . com...
>> Richard Catrambone wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I have a '65 Mustang (200 cu in, 3 speed) with manual steering. The
>>> steering wheel is about 15" or 16" in diameter and leaves little
>>> room above my legs. I'd like to replace the wheel with one that is
>>> smaller. I've seen some in catalogs that are 13"-14" in diameter.
>>> However, I am wondering whether the decrease in size will make
>>> steering significantly tougher when I am doing things like parallel
>>> parking that require small movements by the car and lots of turning.
>>>
>>> Does anyone have experience with this issue?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> It actually makes a big differance. What you have is probably
>> 15".
>> Try a 14" and see what you think. It is a noticable differance in
>> effort while parking, but otherwise not an issue.


--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like dropping to a 14" might be not
too bad but any smaller would be very tough.

Richard


Backyard Mechanic wrote:
> Yep... from a first hand observer, back in the day..
>
> You'll be passing up perfectly good parking spots on the street to look
> for city lots.
>
> "Fred V." > wrote:
>
>
>>It will be a lot harder! I had lots of experience once with
>>an old mercury comet with manual everything.
>>Fred
>>
>>".boB" > wrote in message
r.com...
>>
>>>Richard Catrambone wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>I have a '65 Mustang (200 cu in, 3 speed) with manual steering. The
>>>>steering wheel is about 15" or 16" in diameter and leaves little
>>>>room above my legs. I'd like to replace the wheel with one that is
>>>>smaller. I've seen some in catalogs that are 13"-14" in diameter.
>>>>However, I am wondering whether the decrease in size will make
>>>>steering significantly tougher when I am doing things like parallel
>>>>parking that require small movements by the car and lots of turning.
>>>>
>>>>Does anyone have experience with this issue?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>> It actually makes a big differance. What you have is probably
>>> 15".
>>>Try a 14" and see what you think. It is a noticable differance in
>>>effort while parking, but otherwise not an issue.
>
>
>

Around 11/18/2005 9:09 PM, Richard Catrambone wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a '65 Mustang (200 cu in, 3 speed) with manual steering. The
> steering wheel is about 15" or 16" in diameter and leaves little room
> above my legs. I'd like to replace the wheel with one that is smaller.
> I've seen some in catalogs that are 13"-14" in diameter. However, I am
> wondering whether the decrease in size will make steering significantly
> tougher when I am doing things like parallel parking that require small
> movements by the car and lots of turning.
>
> Does anyone have experience with this issue?

Yes. Tiny steering wheels on vehicles without power assist is a real
pain, even with a fairly light vehicle.

I learned to drive a stick on my great uncle's mid-70s Courier with a
13" steering wheel, and, as filled with youthful energy as I was, I had
a hell of a time horsing the wheel around at anything under ~5 MPH.

I don't think I would have tried parallel parking it, unless I had
_plenty_ of time to maneuver. And a Red Bull.


--
/ Garth - '83 GL V6stang Hatch <Former MW #7> \
| My V6stang: http://www.v6stang.com/v6stang |
| RAMFM Merchandise: http://www.cafeshops.com/ramfm |
\ Mail for secure reply information /

Garth Almgren wrote:
> Around 11/18/2005 9:09 PM, Richard Catrambone wrote:
>
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I have a '65 Mustang (200 cu in, 3 speed) with manual steering. The
>>steering wheel is about 15" or 16" in diameter and leaves little room
>>above my legs. I'd like to replace the wheel with one that is smaller.
>> I've seen some in catalogs that are 13"-14" in diameter. However, I am
>>wondering whether the decrease in size will make steering significantly
>>tougher when I am doing things like parallel parking that require small
>>movements by the car and lots of turning.
>>
>>Does anyone have experience with this issue?
>
>
> Yes. Tiny steering wheels on vehicles without power assist is a real
> pain, even with a fairly light vehicle.
>
> I learned to drive a stick on my great uncle's mid-70s Courier with a
> 13" steering wheel, and, as filled with youthful energy as I was, I had
> a hell of a time horsing the wheel around at anything under ~5 MPH.
>
> I don't think I would have tried parallel parking it, unless I had
> _plenty_ of time to maneuver. And a Red Bull.
>
>
Fair enough...