Steering wheel "dish"?

[1987cp]

Something that's been bugging me lately is the concept of steering wheel "dish", as advertised for aftermarket steering wheels. How is it measured for an OE versus aftermarket wheel? Does an adapter/installation kit get figured into the overall depth when an advertised dish measurement is determined? I've gotten particularly interested recently because I have a wheel here that, while mostly undamaged (only scuffed and faded), is really kind of ugly and might be worth eventually replacing with something different; however, I'm really not sure how to determine what will or won't stick out too far for comfort.

[boXman]

I think mine has 3 or 4 something inch dish. It comes out a lil far, definately farther than stock. If you're a big guy it may be a concern, otherwise I wouldn't worry too much. I think the smallest dish avail. is 3 inches or so. As for measuring, lay it on the front and measure from the surface it's on to the center of the wheel.

[1987cp]

Yeah, that was what I was thinking, that my legs are short enough I don't really want the wheel to come out farther than stock. Especially with the nontilt column, I want to make sure I get something I'll be comfortable with. Is yours stock diameter?

[boXman]

No, it's a lil smaller.

[1987cp]

That looks decent in there. How do your passengers like the rubber rat?

By the way, I did measure this stock '81 wheel and it's about 3" from rim to the tip of the hub (end that goes furthest onto the shaft).

[boXman]

It'd look better if I could get the horn button attached, can't figure it out tho.

No one ever said much about Rat Fink..if it was a snake, it'd be a different story...

[1987cp]

Some Grant wheels, sorted by nominal dish:

1.25"

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D640&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294787075+4294780859+115&autoview=sku

1.5"

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D654&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294787075+4294780853+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D664&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294787075+4294780853+115&autoview=sku

1.75"

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D846&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294787075+4294757587+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D246&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294787075+4294757587+115&autoview=sku

2"

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D830&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+4294891651+400103+4294790504+4294781266+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D763%2D1&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+4294891651+400103+4294781266+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D860&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294790005+4294781264+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D870&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294790005+4294781264+115&autoview=sku

2.5"

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D850&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294789862+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D15201&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294789935+4294780862+115&autoview=sku

2.75"

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D993&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294780865+4294780864+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D991&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294780865+4294780864+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D990&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294780865+4294780864+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D992&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294780865+4294780864+115&autoview=sku

3"

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D772&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294790406+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D762&N=700+4294891653+4294891681+400103+4294781364+4294790406+115&autoview=sku

I guess one of the more likely looking models considering my budget tastes is this one for about $25 .... but at a 10.25" rim diameter, I'm not sure ......

[boXman]

That's friggin small. Like, lowrider small.

[Nathan in MI]

First and foremost:

That's friggin small. Like, lowrider small.

That's what she said.

Second, what's the diameter of a stock steering wheel?

[1987cp]

I measured this one from the '81 at about 14", so I'm thinking for aftermarket something like 13" should be pretty comfortable. I can't really see a 10" wheel being at all comfortable except maybe in a racecar.

[torquelover]

That Grant steering wheel in the above pic looks like it'll be very unsatisfying to clutch, going by the grade and texture of material covering it's rim. Like a sticky, clammy, and hard wheel you find at a county fair bumper car ride. Any leather, suede, or pseudo-suede coverings available?