Manual steering.......which wheel?

[MOPARENT]

Scored a 69 beeper, manual steering car, it didn't come with a factory wheel just some odd mini 3 spoke from the 70's.......What would be the correct wheel to use? It seems like a big 3 spoke would be correct vs the smaller one with the full horn pad due to the leverage needed to parallel park, if I was a 90 year old woman...idk, pics and advice greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Your idea makes sense, but my manual steering 70 RR came with a wood grain steering wheel, so as far as I know you could get any wheel with manual steering. You're right about wanting more leverage. So, I'd suggest either the base 3-spoke or the wood grain. The "deluxe" is a little bit smaller diameter & I think the rim blown wheel is smaller too (not sure, just looks that way)

 

[moparedtn]

My '68 GTX is manual steering. I got a kick out of your reference to parallel parking one of these beasts with manual steering
because I just had to do so Friday evening at the local cruise-in. In front of God and the crowd of locals, I managed to get it right the first time,
no doubt saving myself from the ridicule to follow had I not:

I swear, it seemed like everyone down there stopped what they were doing to watch me screw it up.
As long as I've had the car (8 years now), I hadn't parallel parked it before (probably have to go back to the 80's for the last time I parallel parked a manual steering old Mopar!).
I'd kill for one of the old factory wood wheels, always liked those on manual steering.
As it is, this one has the wheel it was born with, the standard issue black plastic jobber with the half-circle horn ring.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

My '68 GTX is manual steering. I got a kick out of your reference to parallel parking one of these beasts with manual steering
because I just had to do so Friday evening at the local cruise-in. In front of God and the crowd of locals, I managed to get it right the first time,
no doubt saving myself from the ridicule to follow had I not:
View attachment 614954

I swear, it seemed like everyone down there stopped what they were doing to watch me screw it up.
As long as I've had the car (8 years now), I hadn't parallel parked it before (probably have to go back to the 80's for the last time I parallel parked a manual steering old Mopar!).
I'd kill for one of the old factory wood wheels, always liked those on manual steering.
As it is, this one has the wheel it was born with, the standard issue black plastic jobber with the half-circle horn ring.

OMG, you're not lying! I was parking in downtown Chicago where they park so close that it is "normal" to bump the bumpers of the car both in front & behind you while parallel parking (no joke). Even with the bigger wheel, I'm using BOTH hands and all my arm strength to yank the wheel back & forth to park....and a 4spd too. It was such a pain in the you know what that I gave up some horsepower & switched to power steering.

 

[moparedtn]

OMG, you're not lying! I was parking in downtown Chicago where they park so close that it is "normal" to bump the bumpers of the car both in front & behind you while parallel parking (no joke). Even with the bigger wheel, I'm using BOTH hands and all my arm strength to yank the wheel back & forth to park....and a 4spd too. It was such a pain in the you know what that I gave up some horsepower & switched to power steering.

This one will have PS one day. Of this I swear!

 

[Cranky]

Oh c'mon. Moved a 69 roadrunner with a 440 and manual steering the other day and it wasn't that bad. My 66 Belvedere was manual too..../6 car with factory AC and even though the /6 is lighter, that thing is still a pig plus the factory AC isn't exactly a lightweight either. I did take a lot of weight off the car over the years which helped but I'm also old and scrawny lol

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Oh c'mon. Moved a 69 roadrunner with a 440 and manual steering the other day and it wasn't that bad. My 66 Belvedere was manual too..../6 car with factory AC and even though the /6 is lighter, that thing is still a pig plus the factory AC isn't exactly a lightweight either. I did take a lot of weight off the car over the years which helped but I'm also old and scrawny lol

Cranky, you must be working out or something. Try going lock-to-lock 8-10 times while watching for traffic, crazy pedestrians & 10,000,000 other pissed drivers. I'd run mine manual steering for 25+ yrs., but downtown Chicago parking was the end of that.

 

[Cranky]

Cranky, you must be working out or something. Try going lock-to-lock 8-10 times while watching for traffic, crazy pedestrians & 10,000,000 other pissed drivers. I'd run mine manual steering for 25+ yrs., but downtown Chicago parking was the end of that.

I try not to sit around but I don't have a regular workout program but as I get older, the aches and pains are there more often than not. Doing anything downtown is a rpita to me.....

 

[moparedtn]

I try not to sit around but I don't have a regular workout program but as I get older, the aches and pains are there more often than not. Doing anything downtown is a rpita to me.....

Now you know what I was dealing with that day. It wasn't exactly Chicago, but city parking is city parking - especially with an audience.

 

[Dennis H]

Sport wheel. Mine is on the Bar, as I added power and have a small diameter no dish Momo. You can get one on here from the greedy for about $500 if you want the horn button too.

 

[Ranger16]

What would be the correct wheel to use?

This is what's on my '69, but it has P/S.
That said, I'm not sure there was a difference.

 

[Cranky]

I installed a 13" aftermarket wheel on my first car (66 Belvedere) and really liked it....unless the engine died lol. Had to shut it off once when a motor mount broke and the rpm wouldn't come down to a reasonable level and had to steer what felt like a big truck with manual off the road. That was a bit tough and I was fairly young and stronger than I am now

 

[moparedtn]

View attachment 615962 Sport wheel. Mine is on the Bar, as I added power and have a small diameter no dish Momo. You can get one on here from the greedy for about $500 if you want the horn button too.

*drool* Would LOVE that thing...

 

[69 hemibee]

Not to high jack a thread but what wheel is correct for a 69 superbee with PS? Currently, I have the same wheel as the picture Dennis H provided, don't think that is correct for my B body.

 

[33 IMP]

Scored a 69 beeper, manual steering car, it didn't come with a factory wheel just some odd mini 3 spoke from the 70's.......What would be the correct wheel to use? It seems like a big 3 spoke would be correct vs the smaller one with the full horn pad due to the leverage needed to parallel park, if I was a 90 year old woman...idk, pics and advice greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

First, what body style? Base coupe interior had a three spoke plastic wheel with a plain horn button.
Upscale interior coupe, standard http and convertible used three spoke with a half ring horn ring, ranger16 picture.
Next option up was same wheel with a full circle horn ring.
Top option was a wood grain three spoke as shown in Dennis h post, except his has a dodge emblem.
Top three choices all had rr beep beep center buttons.
Do you have a broadcast sheet? Wheel options are s79, half ring,s78 full ring,s81 woodgrain.
ALL this info is from Wes Eisenchenk's book, I'm no expert.
As an aside, I originally questioned the value of this book on this forum but bought it anyway, and ten minutes into reading it I was ecstatic that I bought it. I recommend it to anyone with a 69 runner.
Edit: it appears they are all the same diameter, ps or not.

 

[33 IMP]

I didn't realize the original post was months ago. 69 hemibee, the wheel Dennis H posted is likely top option for your bee, very possibly correct. It does have a dodge emblem. Do you have a broadcast sheet? Dodge might use same option codes as rr in above post. (Row 10 of broadcast).

 

[wagonman]

View attachment 615962 Sport wheel. Mine is on the Bar, as I added power and have a small diameter no dish Momo. You can get one on here from the greedy for about $500 if you want the horn button too.

Same one I have on the 68 R/R, no power steering or brakes. Came with the car along with the plain one. WOW $500 now I feel special.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

I have the sport wheel on my manual steering Super Bee and the horn ring one on my power steering R/T. I would guess they are the same diameter but now I have to measure.

The two steering wheels measured 14-1/2 inches.