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3Likes
02-27-2017, 07:39 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Cobra Make, Engine:
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Steering Wheel Size
I have Superformance w/ 15" "moto-lita" wood wheel. what size was used on the "original" cobras? 16"? I saw a CSX and the wheel seemed larger than 15".
thanks
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02-28-2017, 09:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBlakeOlson
I have Superformance w/ 15" "moto-lita" wood wheel. what size was used on the "original" cobras? 16"? I saw a CSX and the wheel seemed larger than 15".
thanks
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I believe they were 16"? Ours are one piece, the originals had independant spokes and require a ring with reliefs to hold the whole mess together.
See cobrarestorers.com
Steve H
1764
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02-28-2017, 10:30 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Tucson,
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16" original
Larry
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Alba gu bràth
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02-28-2017, 10:47 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sacramento,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance, 427SO
Posts: 389
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This question has me wondering if changing from a 15" to a 16" steering wheel would make any significant difference in steering effort. Anyone here have any experience with making this change ?
Ted
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02-28-2017, 11:21 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shootnride
This question has me wondering if changing from a 15" to a 16" steering wheel would make any significant difference in steering effort. Anyone here have any experience with making this change ?
Ted
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It depends on your size and how your seat is oriented (i.e. tilt back). That extra 1/2" on all sides may not sound like a lot, but if you're already tight then you run the chance of more clearance issues. When I had my Superformance I contemplated the same thing. Ended up sticking with a 15" but bought the true independent three-spoke with the proper center ring just to be certain (ordered directly through Moto-Lita, via Hillbank, to ensure the SPF hole spacing was exact).
16" would have been tight. Do-able, but I have large hands and am tall so it would have been tight.
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02-28-2017, 07:49 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Florence,
AL
Cobra Make, Engine: RCR GT 40 & 1966 Fairlane 390 5 speed
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I changed a 14" to a 15" last spring on a B&B and it was like I added power steering. Hugh differences.
Dwight
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''Life's tough.....it's even tougher if you're stupid.'' ~ John Wayne
"Happiness Is A Belt-Fed Weapon"
life's goal should be; "to be smarter than inanimate objects"
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03-01-2017, 03:01 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Little Rock area,
AR
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31
Posts: 4,483
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You should look at your current wheel clearance to the door and cowl wrap around which depending on your wheel placement can be pretty tight - and a bigger wheel could make it tighter. I would agree that you would probably notice some difference in steering effort - not sure how much you can tell. Basically you are going from a 7-1/2 inch leverage to 8 inch which is about a 6 to 7% advantage. More winding of the wheel in turns though.
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03-02-2017, 07:00 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sacramento,
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Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance, 427SO
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Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll take a closer look at the available clearances for the steering wheel on my car.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanEC
Basically you are going from a 7-1/2 inch leverage to 8 inch which is about a 6 to 7% advantage.
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Dan,
My primary interest in this is because of the steering effort required when trying to maneuver the car into tight spaces with the car moving VERY slowly (which I have to do every time I put it back into my garage). Since I'm generally steering with two hands and assume the force I'm exerting on the steering wheel is probably about equal with each hand (one exerting force up and the other exerting force down), wouldn't that equate to a 12-14% advantage ? Or am I not looking at this correctly ?
Ted
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03-02-2017, 07:54 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Little Rock area,
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Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31
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I'm just looking at the lever arm that the radius of the steering wheel represents. A force has to be applied at the rim normal to that radius to turn the wheel. Going from a radius of 7.5 inches to 8 inches equates to a lever arm that is 1.0667 times longer. Say it takes 20 lbs of force at the rim to initiate movement the reduced force should be 20/1.0667 = 18.75 lbs of force now. As long as you are using 2 hands in both instances, the effort for each hand is basically half or the 20 or 18.75 lbs.
Going from a 14 to a 15 would be a very slightly greater change. If Dwight noticed a significant change going from 14 to 15, you should notice pretty much the same going from 15 to 16.
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03-03-2017, 07:56 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sacramento,
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Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance, 427SO
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanEC
I'm just looking at the lever arm that the radius of the steering wheel represents. A force has to be applied at the rim normal to that radius to turn the wheel. Going from a radius of 7.5 inches to 8 inches equates to a lever arm that is 1.0667 times longer. Say it takes 20 lbs of force at the rim to initiate movement the reduced force should be 20/1.0667 = 18.75 lbs of force now. As long as you are using 2 hands in both instances, the effort for each hand is basically half or the 20 or 18.75 lbs.
Going from a 14 to a 15 would be a very slightly greater change. If Dwight noticed a significant change going from 14 to 15, you should notice pretty much the same going from 15 to 16.
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Makes sense.
After doing a little research on the cost of 16" steering wheels, it may make more sense to just go with power steering.
Ted
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03-04-2017, 08:48 AM
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Location: Spring,
TX
Cobra Make, Engine: 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe. ZZ502FI. 502 HP
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shootnride
This question has me wondering if changing from a 15" to a 16" steering wheel would make any significant difference in steering effort. Anyone here have any experience with making this change ?
Ted
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For a lot less steering effort and also better grip change to a thicker wheel but same diameter. The OEM wheel on my Backdraft is way too thin for a solid grip and went with a similar looking wheel but thicker and it made a huge difference plus kept that Cobra look.
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11-29-2019, 02:10 PM
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Location: Houston,
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wheel size
After doing some serious homework, I have found cars came with either 15" wheel for 260/289 and 16" for the big blocks, which makes sense with the heavier weight.
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11-29-2019, 03:03 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: North of London,
UK
Cobra Make, Engine: AC Cars Limited, 302 EFI
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16” Mota Lita fitted in car
When I rebuilt my RHD Mk IV, I fitted an original Mk III style Mota Lita, which you can still buy new in the UK. It’s significantly larger than the 15” and to me looks and feels dead cool. However I had reposition the column. I was worried about vibration but there’s non really.
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11-29-2019, 05:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texn8
After doing some serious homework, I have found cars came with either 15" wheel for 260/289 and 16" for the big blocks, which makes sense with the heavier weight.
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Original production cars, both leaf spring and coil spring, came with 16” steering wheels.
Larry
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11-30-2019, 05:26 AM
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An inch makes a noticeable difference to feel. Smaller will feel more responsive but will take more effort to turn. I have power steering in mine so can use any size I like.
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Cobra loving, autocrossing Grandpa Architect.
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11-30-2019, 10:50 AM
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CC Member
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I installed the independent spoke 16” on my SPF
You just need the right spacers.
I love it, steering feels lighter and parking maneuvers are easier. The other interesting thing about the bigger wheel is that your tachometer is completely unobstructed, maybe why it’s where it is?
Here’s the ring you need;
https://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb...7a~Z5Z5Z5AAAHC
And what the wheel looks like
https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering...-split-centre/
(Although this one is a 15”)
I frankly don’t recall who I bought the 16” from...
Steve H
SPF 1764
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Superformance 1764
Ford Racing 427 SB
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11-30-2019, 12:37 PM
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CC Member
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Cobra Make, Engine: CSX2321
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBlakeOlson
I have Superformance w/ 15" "moto-lita" wood wheel. what size was used on the "original" cobras? 16"? I saw a CSX and the wheel seemed larger than 15".
thanks
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Yes, they were 16"
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12-01-2019, 11:27 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pleasanton,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA 824 with 470 FE BBM street 427
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Agree the originals were 16". I bought mine directly from Moto-Lita in the UK.
https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering...-split-centre/
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12-01-2019, 01:49 PM
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I agree with Steve.
I had a spacer made for mine, about 1/2". My column is an idit so it has tilt also. The angle on the tilt affects your knuckle room at the cowl. With the wheel fully tilted down there is knuckle room but I figured in the heat of battle at an autocross I'd forget to tilt it down and rap my knuckles.
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12-03-2019, 02:58 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Cobra Make, Engine: Rowan Replicars, 352 4V
Posts: 94
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A few weeks back, I picked up a 16" Moto-Lita, and absolutely love it. Steering is much easier, and the large wheel has a real vintage feel. I hunted around to find the best price, and I only bought the wheel. Since the bolt pattern is different from generic 6 bolt steering wheels, I redrilled a quick release adapter and machined a trim ring.
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