will this fit?

[shmoky]

Will a steering wheel from a '75 fit an '80? The '75 has only 3 screws holding it on and my '80 has 6. Will this be a problem both in fitting and safety?

Thanks for all your wisdom in this matter.

shmoky

PS posted this elsewhere but not much action there... so dbl posted it here.

[vandor]

I remember answering this elsewhere already...

Yes, it will fit. you need to remove the 24mm nut in the center to sway them.

[shmoky]

Thank you,

shmoky

[shmoky]

I remember answering this elsewhere already...

Yes, it will fit. you need to remove the 24mm nut in the center to sway them.

What does it mean "to sway them"?

shmoky

[riverdadd]

Prolly a typo. He meant swap I think

[shmoky]

LOL. Thanks riverdadd. I must have been half asleep.

shmoky

[stuartrubin]

Yes, it will fit. you need to remove the 24mm nut in the center to sway them.

"Sway" as in "persuade!" I've had to take some extreme measures to persuade parts to fit, too!

[Nitrate]

Is the 75' steering wheel the factory thin imitation wood style? I would like to do this on my 81'as well. Is there an issue with fitting the plastic cowling around the steering column once the 75' wheel installed? I believe I read that there was some issue with the turn signal cancelling mechanism, something about a pin not being there? Does the horn wiring need to be modified? Are there some years of the factory imitation wood steering wheels that are better suited for this swap than others? I went thru all 35 pages of the archives on this subject and found that there are pieces here and there with some conflicting information. Can someone help me out with these questions and give me a heads up if I'm missing some thing? Thanks, RB

[baltobernie]

They can sometimes be difficult to loosen after all those years. A wheel puller works best, but lacking one, you and an assistant can get it off. You sit in the driver's seat with hands on the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock. The assistant places the small end of a ball peen hammer on the end of the shaft. He strikes that hammer face with another hammer. At the same instant, you jerk the wheel towards you. Keeping a few threads of the 24mm nut still on the shaft will prevent you from hitting yourself in the face with the hammer(s) and/or the steering wheel.

[vandor]

Yes, I meant swap

I never needed a steering wheel puller on a Fiat. Just whack the steering wheel hard on one side once the nut is off and usually it breaks loose. On some other cars I've seen some extreme difficulty to remove wheels, but not on a Fiat.

[aevansgatech]

I tried to take mine out the other day and was surprised it doesn't slide off easily with the 24mm nut out of the way. Good to know it's not uncommon and I can give it a whack to loosen it up