Steering wheels

Scott Clarke · Scott Clarke's Garage

Howdy-
I'm a visitor from the 911 board. Thought you might be able to help me with a steering wheel issue. Rumor has it that the smaller diameter 914 steering wheel can be made to fit a 911, thereby replacing the bus-like unit that came with the 911s of the late sixties and early seventies. Trouble is, a 911 guy like myself has no idea how many types/diameters of steering wheels came on the 914. Any clarification on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-Scott

Scott S · Scott S's Garage

Yes, it will bolt up - even though the reverse will not (a 911 wheel on a 914). I did it on my 72 911. It looked great, until I had to drive it. The offset is different - the 914 wheel will be closer to the dash. I couldn't go around a corner without hitting my fingers either turning on the turn signals or the wipers....

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

And I don't think the stock 914 wheel (there is only the one type, unless you count the leather-covered one from the Appearance Group cars) is any smaller than the early 911 one.

--DD

Jim Chambers · 10-27-2003, 08:30 AM

Now I'm really confused. I thought the 914-4 and 6 wheels were different. Difference being the splines in the hub. Also believe 914 is smaller diamete than early 911. Always figured 914-6 spline was same as 911. Somebody give me the real scoop.

Scooter311 · 10-27-2003, 08:58 AM

Yo Dave, if not covered in leather, how else did they come? Mine is an appearance group wheel, so I figgered they all came like that.

Cheerio

Scott S · Scott S's Garage

Yes, the splines are different, but in a way that allows the 914 wheel to go on to the 911 hub, but not vice versa. I don't quite understand it either, but I know for a fact it will go on very easlily.
The wheel I threw on the 911 was a leather 914 wheel, and it was most definitely a smaller diameter - at least an inch. It really looked a lot better (it looked "right") and all of the functions worked fine (turn signal cancel, horn button). It was simply to close to the dash. This particular car had a cover lay on the dash to cover up some cracks. While it was never a problem with the original wheel, I'll bet there was barely an inch between the wheel and the coverlay at the top of the instrument cluster.

peter carroll · 10-27-2003, 03:36 PM

Some covered in leather, some hard plastic, and some covered in soft "foamy" material. Pete

jim912928 · 10-27-2003, 05:07 PM

I just tried putting a 911 steering wheel (the 3-spoke out of an SC) in my 914. Fit on the spline fine but there is a wide gap between the back of the steering wheel and the platic ignition coverings. The offsets are definitely different but the splines are the same.

Andyrew · Andyrew's Garage

Are the leather covered one's rare or something? I had 3 wheels that where different, and some guys took my worst looking one for 20 bucks like it was gold!

jim912928 · 10-27-2003, 06:17 PM

i've had 2 914's and both had the hard plastic covered ones....guessing they probably were a rarer option

Jim Chambers · 10-27-2003, 07:41 PM

I once owned a '73 2.0 which had a genuine leather sewed on cover. I'm sure it was a factory wheel. Not sure if it was standard on 2.0 or an option. Later cars had a fake leather wheel which was some kind of vinyl with molded plastic to look like stitching. As they age they get real soft and mushy. I think the real leather ones are the rare and valuable ones.

JWest · 02:21 PM

Splines are the same - I have a 914 wheel attached to a '73 911 column in my parts stash right now.

The early 911 wheel (the one that looks like a 914 wheel) is larger than the 914 wheel - I compared them on my friend's '70 911 about a month ago.

Also, I put a '68 911 column in my last 914, and I used the original '73 914 steering wheel on it. They mix and match both ways, you just have to have all the horn parts and add or remove the plastic cover on the back of the wheel depending on which way you are going.

The aftermarket hubs are different for 911 and the various years of 914s because of the different horn parts and column cover designs.

Edit: everything I know applies to '73 and earlier 911 columns/wheels that look like the 914 wheel - I have not played with the interchange of '74 and later 911 stuff.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Heh, you learn something new every day!!

--DD

peter carroll · 10-28-2003, 05:08 PM

With me it's every other day.

rockaria · rockaria's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by jim912928
I just tried putting a 911 steering wheel (the 3-spoke out of an SC) in my 914. Fit on the spline fine but there is a wide gap between the back of the steering wheel and the platic ignition coverings. The offsets are definitely different but the splines are the same.

The 911 wheel bolts right in to a 914. With the 1 inch gap, I fixed that problem by using parts from the 914 hub and heated them in my oven then molded it around the 911 hub so as to fix the 1 inch gap. Then I was able to use the 914 signal cancel and horn feature just like normal.

Plays with cars · Plays with cars's Garage

Damn! This board never ceases to amaze me. Just grabbed the tape and went out to check. '74 914 wheel is right at an inch smaller diameter than a '73 911 wheel.