Wanted to post a pix of my new steering wheel position. I think one of the dorkiest thing about the spider is the position of the steering wheel. Its like a bus steering wheel not a sports car steering wheel. i don't know what Fiat was thinking when they positioned it originally. Anyway here is my repositioned steering wheel. I am so stoked. When the interior is finished and Marks shifter is in its gonna look so cool..........

That's looking really good man! Great job! Definitely a more sporty position of the steering wheel! Has it been a hard work to do this modification?

Riccardo

if you're 6'2 steering wheel position is just fine, it's just too big

RCSquadraCorse wrote:That's looking really good man! Great job! Definitely a more sporty position of the steering wheel! Has it been a hard work to do this modification?

Riccardo

you have to be able to cut and reposition the bottom plate and then weld it in the new position.

rontron2012 wrote:

RCSquadraCorse wrote:That's looking really good man! Great job! Definitely a more sporty position of the steering wheel! Has it been a hard work to do this modification?

Riccardo

you have to be able to cut and reposition the bottom plate and then weld it in the new position.

So yeah... it's a big job for me... ahahah!
Again, great job with that!

Riccardo

djape1977 wrote:if you're 6'2 steering wheel position is just fine, it's just too big

don't understand your post..................

meaning to say that original position of steering wheel is just fine for tall people, apart from the fact that stock steering wheel is way too big.

djape1977 wrote:meaning to say that original position of steering wheel is just fine for tall people, apart from the fact that stock steering wheel is way too big.

No .........I mean I have never in my life seen a steering wheel in a sports car that is set in that position. the only time they position a steering wheel that way is in a bus............sports cars are supposed to give the driver a sort of race car experience not driving a bus experience................In a race car you hold the wheel in you fingers........the stock position steering wheel is set in such a way that causes you to steer with you palms of your hands unless you want to break your wrists.....Its just dorky and most anybody that has any cool at all agrees with me................

I'd have a difficult time parking with your wheel position, but if it works for you, do it!

I moved my steering wheel a little further to the right.

here is how i did mine..... bolts that drop the steering wheel were removed and replaced with longer ones with a spacer.... worked out great... dropped the wheel to a more "sporty feel" location... cheap and quick

The "straight arm" steering position is very common amongst all the italian cars of that period. Dont know if this is because Italian are for the most part short legged (sophia loren would argue that one. ). I modified my stock steering wheel on my 70 by cutting the wheel and reducing the diameter. this increased the offset toward the driver about an 1". I have a stock wheel i am puting on for my retro 80. If i dont like it, i will restore my modified one. I also prefer to sit more upright than in my youth and that will bring my arms closer to the steering wheel.

81SPIDERMATT wrote:here is how i did mine..... bolts that drop the steering wheel were removed and replaced with longer ones with a spacer.... worked out great... dropped the wheel to a more "sporty feel" location... cheap and quick

I was told about your option before I did it my way................I don't know how big you are butt my legs barely fit underneath mine now eventhough I used no spacers but lifted the back of the mounting plate up and then re welding it and I eveh put a much smaller steering wheel on too if you'll notice.......

another question is what are you gonna do with that big gap you have now between you steering wheel and your dash?

funny i was going to ask you the same thing.... but you lifted the back... i lowered the front.... you probably will not have a gap...... the gap does not bother me... i thought about what to do for the gap for about an hour and have never thought about it again...... ideas?

not a set up you can just jump into for sure ...but i fit ok

i also thought about a smaller steering wheel but was worried it would be a harder steer..

81SPIDERMATT wrote:funny i was going to ask you the same thing.... but you lifted the back... i lowered the front.... you probably will not have a gap...... the gap does not bother me... i thought about what to do for the gap for about an hour and have never thought about it again...... ideas?

not a set up you can just jump into for sure ...but i fit ok

i also thought about a smaller steering wheel but was worried it would be a harder steer..

I I were you ...........I would go back after it again...........I'm sure after driving it for a while you'll agree that your way is not gonna be very comfortable for any length of time........Its really not that hard to do what I did......you just need a little wire feed welder or have a friend with one do it for you. I did mine in a couple hours......I'll draw a diagram and post it here ASAP