Vintage NASCAR steering wheels

[Ghoste]

What are all of those two spoke wheels out of, trucks?  Secondly, why was that the wheel of choice?

[RTDaddy]

Early cars did not have power steering, (this did not show up until about 84/85, Geoff Bodine and Bobby Allison experimented with it).  Thus it took a lot of leverage to horse those cars around.  That also accounts for why most of those guys were some pretty good sized boys.

"IF YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL, YOU AIN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH."

[Ghoste]

So that wheel was just bigger in diameter then?  Makes sense, I didn't know if maybe the two spokes were a rule or what.

[Aero426]

There was no rule on the number of spokes.  I am sure they picked a simple wheel from the truck parts bin.    Have not measured to see if it is larger diameter which would give you a little more leverage.  It may be.  I will compare it. Also, the cars are not difficult to steer once you are moving.    When parked it is another story.

[Ghoste]

Then why do you think they typically chose that one Doug?

[Aero426]

I'll compare the diameter and see if there is any difference.   

[CornDogsCharger]

I would be willing to be that it was more comfortable to steer the cars over a long period of time.  Less work to steer means less fatigue.  No power steering, bumpier ride, less creature comforts, etc.... that would be very tiring after 500 laps.

Justin
"CornDog"

[Aero426]

Race car steering wheel is identical diameter to the street car, apx 15 1/2".    The Nichels Engineering parts book lists a factory Chrysler part number on the race wheel as 2852494.  Anybody have a 67 or 68 Mopar parts book to see the application?  It is not showing up in the online databases.  

[Ghoste]

They appear to skip that number in the pasenger car parts books.  Anyone have the truck books?

[nascarxx29]

Didnt find it
http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=99

[elacruze]

Two-spoke wheels were introduced to keep the driver from being impaled on the third spoke.

[Aero426]

Two-spoke wheels were introduced to keep the driver from being impaled on the third spoke.

There are a few Grand National cars out there that ran a three spoke wheel.    There is nothing in the rule book  that prevented it.   Roy Tyner's Grand Prix has recently been restored.  Here it is as found.  It has a three spoke.  Not an aero car, but it's cool and the real deal.

[UFO]

They appear to skip that number in the pasenger car parts books.  Anyone have the truck books?

Ya ,Quick look did not find that number there either.

[Aero426]

The two spoke wheels bend easy enough...



For you curiousity seekers, there have been three photos of the Tab Prince car on Ebay.   The seller will probably relist them as he bought the negatives.    The sellers Ebay ID is satellite4.

[pettybird]

They look a lot like the 1964 car wheel.  If I were to make one that's what I'd use.

Besides...all you see is 4000ft of electrical tape!

[daytonalo]

I love  69-70 Grand prix, I had a few 428 models

[nitrometal]

They look a lot like the 1964 car wheel.  If I were to make one that's what I'd use.

Besides...all you see is 4000ft of electrical tape!

Speaking of that electrical tape...was that really what it was?  From what I've seen in person, it looks like modern black vinyl tape (not sure if they were original or not).  I remember electrical tape back in that time having a weaved cloth look with adhesive on the back (kind of like an exaggerated duct tape).  You'll still see it if you remodel older homes.

Just seems to give a better grip with sweaty hands with the cloth type vs. glossy vinyl.  I've read somewhere that the drivers hands would be bloody raw after the race.

Any electricians from back in the day remember when vinyl tape became available?

[Aero426]

The wheels were also wrapped in kind of a sponge rubber type material.  Nichels had it in the parts catalog and you would order a length of it and wrap your own wheel.   That is what this photo shows.   

[nitrometal]

Hey Doug,  I'm trying to remember...Isn't your car and the K&K Insurance car covered with the vinyl tape?

[Aero426]

Yes it has miles of electrical tape and a rope under that to make it easier to move the car around.   I would prefer to pull the rope out of there and redo it. 

[hemigeno]

Here's a cropped photo which has most of Doug's car's steering wheel visible

[moparstuart]