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MG MGB Technical - pre '75 steering wheel on '77?

I've got a pre '75 steering wheel, three spoke with the holes drilled in it. I also have the adapter that went with the wheel. I beleive this set up is for the pre '75s. Will this wheel work on a '77? The spline looks like it will match up and spacing seems good just from eyeballing it. I'd rather not go through the hassle of removing the cheap looking stock wheel unless the replacement will fit. Any advise?
S.L. LaPaugh

SL,

Here's a picture showing an early wheel in my 78 BGT.

The spline is the same.

I hate the thick round boss of these wheels, so I removed mine, replaced the fixing bolts with some stainless set screws and bought a badge from one of the other wheels which is a push fit between the screw heads. The shaft was sticking out too far, so I cut it off flush with the nut. I stripped the black paint from the casting and polished the aluminium.

There is just enough room to fit a remote control for the radio so you can change channels, and adjust the volume without taking your hands off the wheel. It's the grey box on the right of the column. Made by Philips for many Renault cars.

I had to make a part to fit to the back of the wheel to keep the self cancelling indicators. I made mine from PVC plumbing parts.

I also covered the rim in leather. I have seen these wheels for sale with a description saying leather rim, but mine is definately a rubber moulding with leather texture and fake stitching, so that's why I covered it.


D Balkwill

By the way, the rubber bumper wheels look a lot better (I think) if you cover the rim in leather as well. Here's the one I did for my car before I bought the other one.

David


D Balkwill

SL,
You can use a 70-76 steering wheel (your preference) on a 77-80 MGB if you use the hub from a 79-80 LE. Any horn push from 70-76 will work, I prefer one from a 70, because it has a nice red MG emblem and was not made as a horn push, as the horn control was on the stalk in 70, similar to operation of the horn from 77-80.
Cheers,
Dave
Dave Winne

Dave & David,

Thanks for the info I will see what I can come up with. Interior looks great with the earlier wheel!
S.L. LaPaugh

Yes, SL, I'm very pleased with mine.

Have fun getting your old wheel off.

Lots has already been written on this, and John Twist has a video clip on Youtube to show you how to do it if you haven't been there yet.

I would recommend dome penetrating oil a day or two before you try.

Good luck.

David
D Balkwill

Dave,
On your comments on ther horn push for this conversion, the horn a US spec '77 doesn't utilize the center button.

If you chnage to an earlier wheel, does it require a change to the horn setup?
Regards,
David
David Steverson

The Davids would appear to be taking over this thread.

Any more out there?
D Balkwill

All 77 and later MGBs used a stalk horn instead of a centre button. The interchangeability of the wheels depends on what column you have, by all accounts the different columns have different splines and their wheels are not interchangeable. If two or more wheels were used with a given column, then they *should* be interchangeable.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 13/10/2008 and 21/10/2008

MG MGB Technical index

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