Installing an early steering wheel in a 77RB

Hello Mates,

Can I install an early 70-76 steering wheel in a 77RB without any major mods. Steering is the three spoke type with holes. The original rear hub is present.
Thanks, Enrique

I don't think so. The splines are unique to each wheel application. You could work at getting the columns changed in.

You might also look at some of the after market wheels that would be similar. Cheaper in the long run. To change to an earlier column, you would have to change that body part that is welded to the firewall that the column passes through.

Take a look at the Moss LE wheel - it will fit a later car, but looks similar to the 70-76 wheels. I've had my eye on one for a while, but all my money seems to go into minor stuff like brakes and clutches.

Here's a link:

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=37130

What is the diameter of the LE wheel, in John's photo link it looks small.

Clifton

Think it will fit however cancelling the turnsignal will be the problem. Have not tried it but I'm told the back of the steering wheel is where the difference is. From what I've seen the splines and nuts are the same from 70 on.

Yep the hub will fit but look at the old wheel and you will see that what Gerry is talking about is the two fingers that cancel the turn signal... If you look futher you will see on the early hub that the horn pickup plate is hel in with two screws.. You may be able to fab up a part to work as a cancel finger for the turn signal.. This is from memory as I don't have a late wheel to look at right now..

A earlier column MIGHT be a bolt in swap but you would have to use the early trun signal and wiper switches. I'd have to put the two side by side to say for sure. If you want to do it that bad, give me a shout and I may be able to help you. Me, I'd just buy a LE wheel from Moss. It is maybe an inch smaller in dia that an earlier wheel

Boy...can't beleive I asked! its a pain in the royalarse. Guess I will keep my old steering wheel and levers. OK, so now a wood dash kit instead.

Thanks for the help, Enrique

I'll defer to you on column nuts and splines since you work so much with that, but look at the firewalls where the columns mount up. There are differences in the pieces welded onto the firewall that changed from year to year for the different columns; I think 77 and 76 are different.

Chris I know the flange is different. The late column has one side of the flange removed along a straight line and the flange itself is not attatched to the column like the earlier columns are, but am not sure that that is not an easy mod to do to an earlier column. It does seem alot easier to simply use a Moss LE wheel. Now if someone wanted to use an eariler wheel, I might be able to come up with a way to do so with some study. The biggie would be dealing with the turnsignal switch