Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

[AUSMHLY]

Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

Hello all,

I've heard that some where, some how, by some one...
Our old beat up, dried up, cracked banjo steering wheels can be modified to 15" with a thicker grip. Keeping the rim black. Same material or something that appears to be the same.

Any leads?

Cheers,
Roger

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

Hello all,

I've heard that some where, some how, by some one...
Our old beat up, dried up, cracked banjo steering wheels can be modified to 15" with a thicker grip.

Any leads?

Cheers,
Roger

Try Blades Design in Texas? He did a wheel using the original hub and spokes and created the rim in wood. Looked really great and authentic and can make any size and thickness you need. (google blades design for website)
Patrick

 

[Shane]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

Try contacting tomfromstlouis as well. I think he has produced something like what you're talking about. He used walnut for his wheel (I think) and it looks beautiful.

 

[GregW]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

Hi Roger,
I wouldn't be surprized if Mike Lempert does that. He'll recondition your old wheel with wood. Mike Lempert

 

[AUSMHLY]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

Thanks guys.

Hoping to find someone who will reduce the banjo steering wheel to 15" and not replace the rim with wood. Not looking for a wood rim. I would like to stay with the black rim. So it looks stock, but smaller and thicker. Thank you guys for the option of a wood rim. Just not what I'm looking for.

I did find a place in Australia, Pearlcraft, that will do it. Looking for a place a bit closer.

https://www.pearlcraft.com.au/welcome.htm

Roger

 

[apbos]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

Roger
I got this from another web site. I will not refer you there as it lights up my virus protection software. It is by Rich Wagner

Steering Wheel Modification (smaller diameter)

" In my continuing efforts to fit a large body into a very small car, I offer the following modification to the steering wheel.

Remove steering wheel. My hub wouldn't come off so I just removed the spoke attachment bolts.
Carefully remove original rubber grip material - a single edge razor blade works well.
Cut spokes off flush with rim.
Cut out section of rim to desired size. eg. to go from standard 15 to 13", cut 2 x pi or 6.3" from the rim.
Now the fun part. Reshape rim to new diameter trying to keep it as round as possible.
Shorten spokes by about one inch.
Clamp together and weld rim and spokes.
Refit grip material using 3M weather strip adhesive.
I also added a foam wheel cover to keep everything together. Advantages: cost no adapter to move the wheel even closer to your chest horn still works (well, as good as it ever did...) Next project: Modify seat backs on later cars to gain some more valuable real estate for long legs (mine is a 74 midget and the seat back cushion looks much thicker than it needs to be)"
Rich Wagner

 

[Cottontop]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

When I changed my instrument panel to one from an Opel GT, I had to drop the steering wheel/shaft a couple of inches. The low wheel situation was made worse when I added (taller) MGB seats.

I couldn't get my legs under the wheel.

I reduced the diameter of the wheel rim from the original 17" down to 13", using the original hub and spokes and finishing it off with a lace-on, leather, steering wheel cover. I did all of the work myself.

I don't want to do another one, but Email me if you are interested in the details.

My Email is at the bottom of the North Texas AH Club home page.


Tim

 

[glemon]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

The triumph banjo type wheel on a TR4 is 15" (if I recall correctly), but the hub and spokes are all different the Healey, but still if you want the Baklite type rim at 15" or so this would be a source.

 

[apbos]

Re: Healey banjo steering wheel modified to 15"

Roger
This might help https://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/en/part.phtml?PartID=3479