I'm planning on building an MK Indy, but before I get started I've got a few jobs (lots) around the house to keep the wife happy.

In return the wife has agreed to help fund the car and leave me alone in the garage to get on with it.

As another sign of good faith she want's to buy me a Steering wheel. The question is how big? I'd like to get a fairly small race type wheel to give plenty of knee room (and look cool), I just wondered if anybody had found problems with a wheel being too small?

Thanks

Andrew

A Badger from my town!

I reckon 10" is too small, 13" is getting a bit big. The advantage of a small wheel is that you can still drive in handcuffs!

Cheers

Chris

beware

a lot of aftermarket steering wheels fail SVA.

Put the car through with the std wheel, and change it afterwards!


Or makes sure the one you get has the SVA compliance


atb

steve

[Edited on 29/6/03 by stephen_gusterson]

I fitted a 11" Mountney one and bought the SVA pad for the centre, passed SVA no probs. Suspect 11" or 12" about right. The SVA centre pad feel off on the way home so if anyone needs it for their SVA let me know, not worth everyone buying one (£12!) for just a couple of hours use.

The SVA man at Derby stuck some insulating tape over the screw heads on my car and said they were o.k. at that.

yours, Pete.

We're going for a Sparco 270mm (10.5") flat top/bottom one from Demon Twats. About £75 + VAT. Haven't had it delivered yet but will stick a picture on archive when it arrives.

[Edited on 30/6/2003 by andyd]

I was thinking of a Sparco Wheel too, like the idea of matching steering wheel, seats, harnesses etc.

Andrew

Another wheel woth looking at is the OMP Formula Quadro. It is flat along the bottom and about 270mm dia. Yours for about £63.09 somewhere in Wibbly Wobbly Web Land.

What are the SVA requirements for the steering wheel?

quote:

---

Originally posted by greggors84
What are the SVA requirements for the steering wheel?

---

For the SVA the steering wheel effects things in a few ways.

Firstly it must conform to the standard interior projections rule, therefore all edges must have a minimum radius of 2.5mm.

There must also be no chance of being caught in the steering wheel, so wheels that have slotted spokes and a no no.

The wheel must also offer some form of protection for the diver in the event of a crash. This is partly provided by having a collapsable column, but can also be provided by some padding over the centre of the wheel.

Finally the wheel defines a zone that is effectively exempt from the interior projections rules. Which is sensible as you would not be able to impact with switches that are behind the wheel. The exempt area expends 127mm outside the radius of the steering wheel.

Conclusion. Put the donor wheel on for the SVA. Nice and soft, and should give a reasonable exemption area.

Andrew

Seems a lot of you are saying fit the doner steering wheel till after the SVA, Skipad tryed that and he failed because the steering wheel obscuerd the speedo....take a look at the thread called Oh Bugger in the SVA section...

I was going to use the Ford wheel but also found that to see all the required dials and warning lights I would need to make a new dash after the test! Also looks better finished to the tester with the correct wheel.

Well, the wife kept her promise and gave a rather useful aniversary gift.

What was her reaction on opening it??

"Ohh I thought it would be bigger!"

Nuff said!

Andrew
Rescued attachment Sparco.JPG

How can you expect a woman to reverse park when a man's been telling her that's 9 inch all these years.

yours, Pete.

Would A Badgers wheel be ok for the SVA? and where can i get a collapsable column from? Or do sierra columns have them?

Thanks

On another post there was someone willing to lend out a steering wheel pad or was it this one...

It's got no sharp edges or holes. The bolt holes might need plugging or covering. Sierra columns and most other modern columns have a deformable section that qualifies.

yours, Pete.

I offered the SVA pad but it's for a Mountney.

Do the metal edges have to me 2.5mm rad (thats the SVA req. right?)

The metal is radiused and is 5mm thick (ie 2.5mm radius), so on that score it should be OK for the SVA, however I would image that the large flat metal plate itself would be questioned as it does not offer any protection if you head butt it. Not very likely as most cars have full race type harnesses, but could be an issue.

A pad in matching material wouldn't be difficult to make and could be velcro'ed on for the test.

Andrew

thought of starting another thread but this topic seems to cover what i'm about to ask!

I've just been offered these two (mountney) wheels (was gonna choose one of them!) one is 10" and the other is 12". I think the 10" looks too small/badly proportioned. any comments?

My second question is that it is available with a mk2 escort boss, though I'll be using the sierra column for an indy, so are other boses readily available (where from please!)

Lastly any comments as re sva'able? I've read the previous posts, but got slightly confused about the centre padding and spoke metal radius thing...

All help apreciated.

Ned.

mountney do bosses for sierra's just got to halfords and pick one up.

the centre section will need padding either buy a pad or make one from foam and cover it then on the way back from sva it falls off.

the 10" wheel will be a bit of a pain go for the 12" one

thanks timf.

Anyone else need/want the escort mk2 boss as the guy only wanted a fiver for it!?

Ned.

At Derby, the tester stuck some tape over the 6 cap screws I had fastened it to the boss with. You could use round headed screws or stick a piece of foam on with double sided tape. The boss was about £20 from Halfords.

yours, Pete.

Ned,

I ditched my 10 inch Trad. Mountney for a 12 inch. Much more convenient, looks realistic and gives more space for hiding clocks and switches behind.

Merlin Motorsport do an SVA PAd specifically for mountneys it £11 + Vat
No Part number - One size fits all.

ATB

Dave



[Edited on 10/7/03 by Sideways 2 Victory]

quote:

---

Originally posted by andyd
We're going for a Sparco 270mm (10.5" flat top/bottom one from Demon Twats. About £75 + VAT. Haven't had it delivered yet but will stick a picture on archive when it arrives.

---