Contemporary owners, need your help with your steering wheel location

767Jockey · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2022, 05:31 PM

My CCX steering wheel doesn't seem like it's in the correct location with regard to distance from the cowl to the back of the wheel rim. It feels too close to me, and it also rubs against my thighs. It's very difficult to get in and out of the car with the wheel mounted. I have a removable steering wheel hub, but getting in with the wheel in place is tough getting my legs under it to slide into the seat. Can you CCX guys measure the distance from the edge of the cowl to the back surface of your wheel rim, and if it's not too much trouble, how high the wheel rim is above the cowl directly behind it? The other issue is the turn signal stalk is so close to the back of the steering wheel that every time I turn my hands hit the turn signal stalk. How far behind your wheel is your stalk? I have something not right here and I need to sort out what it is. The steering wheel is the standard 15" diamter wood rimmed Moto Lita that CCX included with the kit.

Thanks guys - more sorting out to come.

1985 CCX · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2022, 08:19 AM

Doug

The steering column behind the dash should allow you to adjust up. Its a bolt attachement with a slide.
Will give 1-2"

767Jockey · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2022, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Doug

The steering column behind the dash should allow you to adjust up. Its a bolt attachement with a slide.
Will give 1-2"

It's up as high as it'll go, Jeff. I think it's too close to the driver, that's making the geometry problem. Right now the column is at the top of the column cutout in the dash.

Pmccooey · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2022, 12:39 PM

I’ll try and get out this weekend and measure but these cars are a tight fit. Really need to climb in and slide down to get in. I’m 6’, 190 and it’s a squeeze to get in and out. What measurements do you have right now?

767Jockey · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-2022, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pmccooey

I’ll try and get out this weekend and measure but these cars are a tight fit. Really need to climb in and slide down to get in. I’m 6’, 190 and it’s a squeeze to get in and out. What measurements do you have right now?

I just measured, it's about 3 1/4" from the rear surface of the steering wheel to the rounded rear edge of the cowl.

Pmccooey · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2022, 12:58 PM

Trying to post pictures but I’m about 2 1/2” from the back of the top part of steering wheel to cowl. I have about 1 1/2” from back of steering wheel to turn signal.

Pmccooey · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2022, 01:02 PM

767Jockey · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2022, 02:31 PM

Great info, thanks for taking the time to measure and for posting that.

Pmccooey · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2022, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Great info, thanks for taking the time to measure and for posting that.

I hope that’s what you needed. Is yours roughly the same?

767Jockey · #10 (**permalink**) 10-29-2022, 03:48 PM

I'm about 3/4" closer to the driver. I suppose the quick diosconnect steering wheel hub accounts for that.

DanEC · #11 (**permalink**) 10-30-2022, 04:36 AM

I brace my right hand on the seat back, put my right foot in, twist slightly to put my left hand on the seat back to shift my weight to it while I lift and place my left foot in on the floorboard. Then I sort of do a dip with my arms and shoulders to lower my butt towards the seat and slide down into place. I’m 6’2”” and 71 years old. It’s not quite as easy as it was 10 years ago but trying to sit down in the seat and the contort my legs to get them clear of the door is worse.

Pmccooey · #12 (**permalink**) 10-30-2022, 02:10 PM

I just literally climb onto the seat, face the steering wheel and slide down and in. Basically the same in reverse to get out.

twobjshelbys · #13 (**permalink**) 10-30-2022, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pmccooey

I just literally climb onto the seat, face the steering wheel and slide down and in. Basically the same in reverse to get out.

That's how I put mine on too. That's how the racers got in too.

patrickt · #14 (**permalink**) 10-30-2022, 05:21 PM

I never actually exit my car. I spend 100% of the time in the seat and behind the wheel. I eat, sleep, pee and poo all right there in the car and use an ERA supplied chamber pot which I dump out the side of the car when I'm driving. I have found that totally solves the ingress/egress problem.

ccx1984 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-2022, 10:29 AM

had the same problem, installed slider on my seat frames so I could move seat back to get in and out.
I replaced the Moto Lita with a backdraft steering wheel, fatter and smaller diameter.
have a extra backdraft steering wheel if you think it will help.

767Jockey · #16 (**permalink**) 11-02-2022, 12:17 PM

I thought about installing a slider on the seat but figured that would make the situation even worse by raising the seat even higher. How much do the sliders raise the seat? It's a pain in the neck to get in and out of, but that's not the main problem. The main problem is the steering wheel rubs against the tops of my thighs. I could stand to lose 25 lbs or so, but I'm certainly not grossly obese either. That shouldnt be. At 5'10" and 210 lbs I figure I should easily be able to drive without the wheel hitting my thighs. I'd really like to keep the wood rimmed Moto Lita, I like the traditional Cobra look of that.

ccx1984 · #17 (**permalink**) 11-13-2022, 02:32 PM

bought the seat sliders from summit, I brought the front of the frame up 1"
they tilt the seat back a little,.
we are the same height and weight, my steering wheel tube is in the center of the oval opening of the dash, I like the Moto Lita also but I had the same problem of steering wheel rubbing.
I just slide the seat back get in slide up and make up the harness.
we spoke several years ago when we both bought our cars and you lived in NY.
give me a call if you have time (504)450-6194