Formula Steering Wheels - Types?
 

What are the differences between Formula steering wheels? I know about the early 2nd gens having a thicker rim, but what about the finish on the grip and metal? I've seen some with flat metal finish and some with anodize finish.I've also seen some grips that look like foam rubber instead of the leather wrap look.Is this just wear or was there a real difference?. I have a 72 and would like to get the correct wheel. Any help would be appreciated.

this thread may help, sorry the pics don't show, i think you have to be a member & log in:

http://www.transamcountry.com/forum/...906&highlight=

this may help though i doubt it:

http://www.transamcountry.com/forum/...176&highlight=

tdavidl

Thanks that helps, but does anyone have some steering wheel pics?

i'll try to remember to post the pics i have (assuming i still have them) this evening. TAC is having site probelms & i believe they removed some of the pics from old topics.

Thanks,

I read someone on the net that the very first formula wheels in 1970 were actually hand wraped and sewn and that later in 1971 they were "formed". I've never seen a real early wheel so I also don't know what the finish was on the metal. I seen some supposedly early that have a wrinkle like paint finish.

can't comment on the "wrap", i've never heard of that nor seen it. here are pics of mine which is suppose to be one of the original (early) types , so i've been told (see link above) :

There were at least 3, possibly 4 different thicknesses of the Formula wheel from late '69 intro through '81. The earliest version was the THICKEST, a std shape biz card will roll all the way around the rim of a true FAT wheel leaving around a 3/8" gap.

The last aluminum spoked versions ('77 & '78 & some '79's) & the '79 & 80 (some '81) steel spoked versions, one can wrap a business card around the wheel, & one will come up with a 1/8" gap. Have over a dozen Formula wheels from this era & all measure the same.

Thinnest version was the steel spoked black textura painted wheels used on some '81 models. With this thinnest version, the ends of a std business card will touch. Ck out an original dark blue '81 Formula wheel if you get a chance. Dark Blue seems to be a color that for '81 was "super" thin. The chocolate brown wheels for '81 were not that thin. Have had quite a few of each.

Early wrapped Formula wheels, don't believe so. Have quite a few original FAT rim Formala wheels, earliast of which was original on a Oct '69 built '70 455 4spd GTO. This early '70 Formula wheel is identical thickness wise to the original Formula wheels off my '70 1/2 T/A, '71 Judge, '71 1/2 GT-37, & late '72 T/A.
Only original wrapped Formula wheels were the pacecar Formula wheels. TATA's & Indy pacecars got these. Have one & it needs restoring, there is a biz in Mesquite Texas that recovers them along with leather wrapped Vette wheels.

FAT soft Formula wheels...
Back in 1981, I pulled a really nice condition FAT wheel off a '74 T/A in local late model yard. Near flawless wheel, but was soft, & is to this day much softer than all my earlier FAT rim wheels. I believe it was made by another supplier OR injected out of different material. Over the years, have had quite a few soft fat Formula wheel cores that were in much worse shape. Years & years of exposure to sun & weather will soften up even an original hard FAT rim wheel, but the '74 wheel I have was def soft to begin with & so were others.

Hope this helps.

'ol Pinion head,

Thanks for the info, it really helps. Do you know if the metal finish was the same on all years? Or do they differ from year to year? I'm looking for a correct steering wheel for a 12/71 production date T/A.

I picked up a 1976 Formula rally steering wheel today and was wondering if they were just as thick as the early ones or thicker than a 78, let say ?

My '73 has an anodixed finished spokes ( showing mostly the aluminum now) and I believe it to be original but I have seen some with a texturized paint looking finish that I was told was original also.

Anyone clarifiy this for hvirgen and me as well?

Thanks,

Who makes the best repro wheels for a '71, anybody know?

I think there is only one repro fat wheel out there. The one I got measured right on the thickness. The feel of them is a bit harder than the original wheels, and the grain they put in them is not correct but it can be carefully sanded out to look smooth like the correct original wheel surface and dyed with SEM landau black.

Based on the what I have observed, the soft fat wheels started in '73. All of the '70 to '72 wheels I have seen have had the "IC" code stamped in them and were pretty firm. The '73 and up fat wheels I have seen have all seemed softer, as you describe, and didn't have the "IC" code anymore.

hvirgen,

Here's some pics of the formula wheel in my '72 Trans Am. The build date on my cowl tag is 11B (second week of November). This is the original wheel to my car, at least that's what I was told. I don't have any reason to believe any different as almost everything else on the car is original and as you can see from the pics it's showing its wear from 36 years.

Edit >>> I should also add that my wheel is firm, I would not call it soft by any means. For instance you could not squeeze it and have it expand/contract within the tightness of your grip.

Sorry for the size of these, I don't know how to make them smaller...

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...9/IMG_0405.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...9/IMG_0415.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...9/IMG_0372.jpg

Has anyone ever seen this type of wheel? It has a "4" molded in. It is a little thicker than 3 1/2" or very close to a business card wrap.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...3/DSCF2550.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...3/DSCF2587.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...3/DSCF2588.jpg

The wheel looks to be mounted out of phase with the hub. I would say it is a late 73-76 era wheel.

Thanks zirconia, the hub is just screwed in to keep parts together for now.

Have you ever seen the "4" in these wheels before to tell late 73-76 or is it based on oPh reply?

I see the 4, clearly. I can't explain it. That looks like the mold mark common to those. It could be just a "Jesus in your toast" phenomenon.

I've got an early 'fat' wheel, late 1969 I should say. As you can see on the picture, the rim is very fat. And it's small in diameter. I love it.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...Picture123.jpg

I'm always curious and notice this. Anybody have any knowledge on these differences?



#1Red one is crinkled and has a number stamped on the inner metal circle. #2 has the gold spokes and the number 1 1 stamped in the circle. #3 came off an 80 and it is very soft grip , the car might of been an se. Now I notice that in the center some have 2 notches and some of my other ones have one. I'm assuming that a change in years.