OK,,,,,I probably wouldn't have to ask this question if I broke down & bought a GM parts interchange book.

My car came to me with a plastic 16" simulated walnut steering wheel.  The current wheel has 3 good size cracks in it that are pretty wide.  I  am about to remove it while I replace the horn ring & blinker components, and I ought that now would be a good time to replace it.

I was going to replace it with a 14" mahogany laminated wheel, but I really like the look of the big wheel.  I always remembered old cars with those big steering wheels.  Also, I really like the way the "walnut" looks against a black on black car.  It's the only thing not black except for the chrome.

I have not been able to find this wheel in any of my usual parts houses (Corvette Central, Ecklers, Mid America, etc).  A couple of Vette Internet Junkyards want more than a real Teakwood wheel ($600) for a used one, and I lost all of the ones on E-Bay, or they bids have run over $350.

Now for the questions:

Will a repro "walnut" wheel from http://www.classicindustries.com that is made for the '67 & '68 Camaro, Impala, & Chevy II (part #9746195) fit on my '68 Vette?

In looking it side by side with the wheels in http://www.ecklers.com catalog (part #42183), the bolt holes look like an exact match.  I'd rather spend the $250 to get a new one as opposed to calling all across the country trying to hunt down a "good" used wheel for the same price or more, and I really don't want to wait until Carlisle to do this.

I'm assuming that there was some interchangeability between Chevy products. 

Can anyone out there confirm if the repro steering wheel will work in my Vette? 

Also, was the "walnut" wheel stock in '68, or was it offered as a factory or dealer option?  It was not listed on my tank sticker.

Thanks,

Anthony

Try Gary's Steering Wheel Restoration <www.dealsonwheels.com/parts/garys>. By getting your own steering wheel restored you'll know it fits. They're in Carlisle, PA.

I've seen their work and it's excellent.   

Gunslinger,

Dave's really sounds like a great service.  I'll give them a call tomorrow.

If they are too much $$$, I may order the wheel from Classic Industries & give it a try.  Worst that can happen is that I have to send it back.  I'm not trying to get the wheel for free, but the more I spend on the wheel, the less I have for my other winter projects.

Glad to see that you added the Avanti, haven't seen one in a long time nor did I realize that they were still made.

Thanks,

Anthony

Another question,,,,,,,,

Will I need a puller, or can I get the steering wheel off with a little gentle persuasion?

Thanks,

Anthony

When you take the  center  off there will be about 5-6 philips screws. Just remove the screws and the wheel comes right off. Silver6938387.6595138889

You won't need a puller..what you'll need is either a screwdriver or nutdriver...I forget. The only thing you have to be careful about is if you have the tilt-telescoping wheel. It's somewhat more complex, but still a pretty simple job compared to using a puller.

In '03 at Corvettes at Carlisle, there's a vendor who recovers steering wheels for the major catalog companies and charges you what the companies pay him, so there's no additional markup. While I waited, they recovered a like new steering wheel frame with new matching Oyster padding and leather for my '78 Silver Anniversary. One of his techs went out to my car parked on the field and swapped out my old cracked leather wheel in only a couple of minutes with a minimum of handtools. I watched and it's simply not that hard, and my car has the tilt/tele option.

If I remember right, it was no more than $175 for a brand new appearing steering wheel with my old one in trade. The older steering wheels that are either wood or plastic rimmed are far more expensive to get rebuilt.

One of the first things I did on my '82 was replace the steering wheel. Someday I might have the original rewrapped in leather to match the interior, but right now I like my imitation mahogony wheel.

It only took about 30 minutes to do the exchange, and that was by someone who didn't know what they were doing.

The next time I do it, I will disconnect the battery. Every time the rings contact each other, the horn blows. My neighbors still wonder what all the horn blowing was about.