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Re: steering wheel size

To: "Peter S." <alfapete@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: steering wheel size
From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 18:24:29 -0600
Peter,
You might do as I did.  I took the center including the horn button from
a stock early 1500 3-spoke wheel and adapted a Grant wheel to the
center.  It took a bit of hacking and drilling, but in the end it's a
good fit, smaller in size, highly padded and the leather that I hand
stitched adds a bit of class.  The rubber horn surround hides all the
cutting that I did.

Regards,
Joe

"Peter S." wrote:
> 
> Wanted:  Replacement steering wheel for my 76 Spit.  Current item very
> weathered.  Would like same size - or smaller.  Does not have to be Triumph
> but it must fit the splines.
> Peter S
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Arthur H. Smith <arthurhsmith@compuserve.com>
> To: SPITFIRES <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 17, 1999 2:44 PM
> Subject: RE: steering wheel size
> 
> >
> >
> > first Laura says
> > > Someone at a car show a few weeks ago told me that a larger steering
> > wheel
> > >  gives more control.
> >
> > then Dan replies
> >
> > <Snip
> > At the risk of sounding like a male chauvinist pig....<g>...!
> >
> > a larger wheel will definitely provide more control. If you mean faster
> > response, then he was wrong, because a smaller wheel will give more
> control
> > .
> >
> >
> > To illustrate, lets consider two extreme examples. In the first, let's say
> > it
> > takes 10 ............................. plus or minus one inch.
> > Unsnip>
> >
> > HUH???    You mean degrees of turn...    Right???
> >
> > <snip
> > has ten times as much precision.
> > Unsnip>
> >
> > that might be good for a gun but with steering a car precision is....  How
> > do I put this.  Your always correcting the direction so exact precession
> is
> > achieved through corrections in steering.
> >
> > <snip
> > Again, assuming the driver can move his hand at the same speed, The
> smaller
> > wheel
> > has ten times the speed.
> >
> > What do you want -- precision or speed? Evidently, race drivers want
> speed,
> >
> > truck drivers want precision?
> > Unsnip>
> >
> > Wrong...... The steering wheel in a truck is large because in the days
> > before power steering it took a lot of torque to twist the steering to
> turn
> > a truck. And it was kept large to reduce the effort because on a long haul
> > the driver needs to stay at peak. The steering wheel in an F1 car is small
> > because 1) the car is light, and the lock to lock is 1 turn, 2) there is
> > not much room and in some the wheel isn't round, 3) they have power
> > steering to reduce the effort. Look at an old F1 car and the steering
> wheel
> > is big. I replaced the 15" wheel in my Jag with a 13". The wheel kept
> > rubbing my right leg as I got in and out and would leave marks on my
> pants.
> > On the highway at 80+ there is no change in effort just a sort of "funny
> > feeling because my hands are closer together" but when I race it on a
> > slalom I found to my dismay that the hard turns require more effort, so I
> > may go to a 14" wheel.
> >
> > Lastly the steering wheels on modern cars with power steering are the size
> > they are to make it EASY to steer. Auto makers call it comfort.....
> >
> > Laura in this case some guys feel smaller is better.....   <GGGG>
> >
> > The arthur    >;-} :4 O#:-)8<
> > kit car aka 69 GT6 (no steering wheel)
> > 82 XJ6  Jaguar (13" steering wheel)
> > boxy thing on wheels aka ford aerostar (15" steering wheel)
> >

-- 
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
 -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer

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