Who Else Is Waiting For A Formula Wheel?
 

I ordered mine many months ago. When the rest of the order arrived promptly, I contacted customer service. Nice people. Over the weeks and months I kept getting the same story: We are waiting for the collars to arrive from the vendor. Should be in in a week or two at most.

Well, last week I received a definitive date: July 17th the collars will be delivered to Ames. Hopefully we will get our steering wheels soon thereafter, so we can stop steering with vise grips (LOL).

I'm told something like 54 are on backorder!

I wonder if amongst the talented people on this board, there isn't a talented person who could whittle one up in a CNC machine, drill and tap a few holes and paint on crinkle paint!

Oh well, only five more weeks to wait.

This is your host that is causing the delays! Max Performance (formerly Performance Years) makes the collars. We have 145 orders. Our supplier has had troubles delivering this part. It's a pretty complicated product requiring several different operations including the spline, aluminum casting, cnc and wrinkle paint.

The reason why you can't cnc these collars is because the part that goes over the column and holds it in place (spline) is part of this assembly. It requires a very unique process as the spline is hardened and chamfered.

I'll double check and confirm whether that promised date is accurate.

I ordered a formula wheel two weeks ago to replace the one I bought 5-6 years ago and got it right away- fast shipping but I think you are waiting on other parts?

FYI these wheels have about a 5 year shelf life. Both the one in my 70 GTO and 79 TA started falling apart at the same interval. The price is reasonable and cheaper than getting it wrapped in leather so I just bought another one. I will say the quality of the wheels are excellent, the just break up after a while. That’s not really Ames fault.

1965GP, I'm guessing that you already had the collar, horn assembly, etc. and that you bought only the steering wheel.

I needed the entire kit. Thd holdup is the collars. Now if you got one with the collar, our sponsor has some 'splainin' to do, as Ricky Ricardo used to say

Stuart

No- I ordered the coller and install kit 5 years ago when I bought the first wheel. You are correct- this was only the wheel. I am very happy with the way it feels/looks.

Whewh! LUCYYY? ;)

Understand, is there anything you could suggest, in the way of a coating or treatment, applied when new, that might prolong the life of the wheel?

There are 2 brands of wheels out there. Ours and Parts Place. Ours is softer and we have two thickness's. 70-72 and 73-76. When you press your thumb on the foam, it gives a bit.

We put one on my Bandit car 10 years ago. It was still perfect when I sold it last June. I suppose a car sitting in the hot sun a lot would accelerate that decline of the wheel. I never put any type of protectant on the wheel.

So my thoughts would be to keep it out of direct sun as much as possible. There's really not much else you can do.

Do these wheels now have better metal centers?

Previous experience with these is the metal is super flimsy and bends easily....


If you can't find a good OEM steering wheel, the LeCarra copy of the formula wheel is such a better built wheel.

I bought the last one from Ames- I have no idea who they get it from. Both cars are stored indoors and get less than 1000 miles a year.

The one from my TA I bought from Restore a Musclecar (I think?) about the same time and both are splitting along the top and crumbling where the spokes meet the wheel.

Here are the pics- Gold one out of the TA black one out of the 70 GTO. I know I bought the GTO wheel from Ames but like I said it was a while ago.

My wife drives the TA when it gets driven so I don’t think it is a driver issue.

Notice the screws rusting on the TA? I had the same thing happen to the GTO. If you order them maybe put an extra coat of paint on them.

Not sure if you can tell which manufacturer they are from or not? I liked it enough to buy another one. To be clear- I am not saying don’t buy it. Just letting you know my experience

The original wheels were flimsy too. I believe it was done purposely for safety.

those are nasty looking wheels! I've never seen any of our wheels do anything remotely close to that. Yikes!

Anyone else reading ever have their reproduction wheel do anything like that?

I’ve heard of a few other people having the same issues. Cars are in Houston, TX so they can get hot, but not extreme temperature swings.

I have an original wheel that had a bend in the left side spoke. I had to use a bench hydraulic press to get it back in shape. I've seen a repro wheel bend a spoke when someone was trying to move/push the car across the garage floor.. No comparison, at least with that wheel....

Same here,,,i bought the lecarra leather wheel and horn button and the other stuff from ames to convert from my standard 70 gto wheel to the formula. Still waiting on the collar . Sounds maybe we're close??

Ive read where the formula wheel wasnt available with manual steering because of the flimsy formula wheel.

They changed yo steel in 79 or 80.

I have purchased both brands of Repro Formula wheels, and they aren't fit for a go-cart. I got so pissed with their poor construction, I sought out a pristine original for some hefty coin.

Why bother producing this trash?

:^(

Wish I knew this before ordering mine. Thanks for the insight.

Stuart

Okay, it is after July 17. Have you been able to confirm that the July 17 delivery date occurred? If not, is there a new delivery date? Failing that, and after reading some of the remarks about the quality of the product, I'd consider going another direction.

But for now, let's hope the assemblies are being put together for delivery.

Thanks,

Stuart

Called Ames customer service today. No joy. No predictions. No idea when collars will arrive, or even if they will.

Insert sad face.

Sigh..... We kind of came through. They are produced and in route to us and this was done prior to the deadline. Sadly, there was a missed communication and they are arriving by boat. The new date is Mid August.

That being said, Of the couple non glowing comments about the wheels and/or the collars, if you consider that thousands have been purchased, installed and enjoyed, overall they would receive very high marks.

What we are admittedly guilty of is a very long delay in this last production run. Again I apologize. :(

mid August is better than nothing...i don't know where on the waiting list I am . I know i got on it around the beginning of the year.

Thanks for the update. The CSR on the line was less well informed. I appreciate the sentiment and the apology, while not necessary, is very kind.

As to the "less than glowing reports", I'm still willing to see for myself! After all, millions of Chevy guys don't give Pontiacs very high Mark's, but hey, I do!

Stuart

You are probably ahead of me, I think I got on in February, but I don't remember.

I am very happy with the condition of the wheels when new- as I said I ordered another one. I just would not expect them to last over 6 years. New wheel is on the car now and feels great.

it will interesting to see what the measurements are. Here is one I got off a different vendor back in December and sent it back because it was damaged and it was the only one they had. Ames didn't have any at the time I think. People were complaining that when the collar was installed there was a big gap between the collar and the steering column. I never tried to install the damaged one but I did run a straight edge over the one end ,,you can see there is a slight gap where the part that will touch the column sits lower. I wonder if these new ones will be the same or with a bigger gap. The bigger the air gap will make the gap tighter between the collar and the column.

There is enough to fill all backorders. So once we get them and send to Ames, they should be able to fill all backorders within a day or two I would think.

In order for the Ames CSR to have known this info, they would have had to call us 'yet again'. You can't blame them for throwing their hands up at some point. We took so long, that's kind of what happens in this industry. You get tired of giving your customer a date, then the date is missed and you have to make excuses to all those you promised a date to.

If you look at them cross-eyed, they bend. The originals, while fragile compared to some wheels, are FAR less malleable than the current replacements. I figure its a cheaper grade of aluminum to go with their cheaper grade of foam that doesn't last 6 years on a pampered garaged show car.

Will this Lecarra steering wheel:

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...ibanner=SREPD5

work with the factory horn assembly and collar?

If so (and I think it probably is), then IF my wheel is as bad as described by 77 Canamman, then I'll replace the wheel at a later date. But I still need the collar and horn assembly, so I'll give the Ames product a whirl!

Stuart

GM made at least 5 different styles of 'original' wheels for the 11 year period. You you'd need to have experienced and awful lot of originals to 'figure' correctly. ;)

I've owned 4 Firebirds/T/A's from that period. I am aware of the differences in the wheels.

Bottom line, in my experience, the repros are inferior to OEM BY FAR.

Your opinion is welcome here. That's why we have these forums. However, 'inferior' and 'BY FAR' are your opinions that are not shared by many nor myself who has spent the last 30 years making reproductions. Everyone has a different level of tolerance of what to expect in a reproduction. Bottom line is yours appears to be quite low. ;)

Anyway, for all reading...…. just be on guard, if you haven't noticed already, quite a few reproductions are starting to get discontinued. It's due to not being able to produce the item profitably. Profitably is a direct correlation to quantity.

I would never promote the acceptance of junk. However, it has been literally 30 years of reproductions and 30 years of some owners complaining about the difference between a reproduction and the original. It's about time to accept that most reproductions are 'different' than originals. It's not about better or worse. It's more about being 'different'. If we all can't accept that, your future choices are going to be NOS, used or nothing!

It was extremely difficult and expensive to retool this new collar and it was difficult to retool and improve the Formula wheel several times over the years. When someone gives a derogatory review of an item not knowing all that goes on behind the scenes, it causes other car owners to maybe steer clear and it causes companies like us to lose heart in our efforts to support the Pontiac hobby.

Again, you have a hard time taking any criticism of your products. Same goes for my glowing review of the Pypes crossflow system. Not once did I say that ALL repros are inferior or trash. I bought your wheel, and the wheel from your competitor. Both sucked in terms of durability as compared to GM. Yours was closer in appearance to original. Both hit the trash can after they bent, and a expensive mint original was purchased, which has not bent. Several hundred dollars was wasted...

Bottom line, if your product was closer to the standards of the original, there would be zero or fewer derogatory reviews of your parts. It's quite simple, really.

Im assuming it would fit. Ive got that same lecarra wheel,ames horn button and guts new awaiting the collar for my 70 gto. I did ask in the street forum months ago about doing the conversion. There were a few there that had done it and mentioned the wheels can bend without much effort. Like do not try to push the car through the window with your hand on the wheel. A stock steel wheel can handle it but youll bend a formula wheel,,stock or aftermarket. I have no experience between the rigidity between oem and aftermarket. Ill be careful with my lecarra knowing this and hopefully it will be ok.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=835268

Any updates on the collar arrival?

Just arrived. in PA. We're inspecting, boxing and shipping to all dealers this week. It takes 2 days to get to Ames. So I imagine they will start shipping to everyone next week.

Are all items getting harder to get?ordered steering wheel package months a go...customer since 2011...few years ago, no issues. Is r sport dying?

It's called COVID.

Got mine today,,,,looks good. Hopefully the installation goes smooth.

Getting mine at the end of the week..ordered in May' 2020, cant wait to install..

Mine showed up Thursday. A very kind lady from Ames called a few days before that and asked that I not say anything for a bit since she had lots of calls to make. Examined it last night, looks great. Rim texture and paint finish different from OEM but not drastically so.

I'm quite pleased with what I have and with the quality of Ames' CSRs.

Additionally want to thank Ccass for his information.

Stuart

Broken Spoke
 

Well, it lasted two years' worth of almost all "shelf" time. My car has only been out for four cruises since installing the wheel. Got in the car yesterday and this is what happened.

I've tried rotating the picture, but with no luck, sorry.

Slick

Ouch!

How did that break?

I sat in the car after replacing the rear end and rear suspension. Grabbed the wheel as I went to start the car and it snapped.

I've pushed and pulled cars by the steering wheel. I was in a terrible front end wreck in my 70 Trans Am in 1979, one that bent the steering wheel. But I've never, ever had one break like this!!!

Wow. That just crazy that happened.

I have said all along - the repop Formula wheels are PURE TRASH and should be banned from being sold. SO UNSAFE.

Pure recycled garbage from China.

Sorry that happened. Glad it wasn't on the road. I agree that these wheels are suspect and need to be re-engineered and then manufactured using top grade materials!