Aftermarket steering wheels...

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grifterkid

Member
I would like to fit a nice steering wheel (not to say the original Rover one isn't nice!) on my P6B and would like to know if you good people have any suggestions (along with pictures if possible please)? I just want something with 3-spokes perhaps and maybe a little smaller than standard...? I'm not sure though so help me out if you'd be so kind...
 
Moto-lita ones are familiar to many, they make what you describe to suit the P6 and look classic. You have to order the P6 boss + specify centre cap/button and so on. Then there's Nardi, Italian manufacturer, probably a bit finer and with more non-wood options. Not sure about the indicator lever returning unless you fabricate something or transplant the clamped-on ring from the stock wheel.
 

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Mines a 14" semi dished early mota-lita with a P5 wheel center badge fitted.
Won it on ebay a few years ago for £30ish,and by pure luck a week later got a new boss for £15!
SORTED!!
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Won it on ebay a few years ago for £30ish,and by pure luck a week later got a new boss for £15!
SORTED!!
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I'll give you £50 cash for the steering wheel making you a £5 profit he :LOL: he :LOL:
 
Hi
I bought a very nice three spoke wood rim Italian Nardi wheel on E Bay ; from a guy in Japan who seemed to have a container full of wood rim wheels . This was a great deal especially since the air mail parcel postage from Japan was ridiculously cheap.
The Rover wheel bolts onto a flange , so there are no worries about the column mounted controls . I had an alloy adaptor boss machined up, to mate the Rover and Nardi bolt PCDs and hold the original 3500S steering wheel badge . The thickness of the boss was set by the need to give clearance between the Nardi wheel and the dash board The Nardi wheel is smaller than the original" Leyland bus" sized wheel and is not so deeply dished ,. My car has power steering so the reduction in diameter is is not a problem , however it means you have to consider where you put the vertical adjustment of the wheel if you want to see all the instruments and warning lights !!!
I will post pictures as soon as I can work out how . [I'm still mourning the demise of BSW nuts and bolts !!!!]
Cheers
RVW
 
Hi RVW,

I saw what I assume is the same guy on eBay, selling various wheels in used condition. Was yours a 14"? With Moto-Lita getting a correct boss is fine, but what's the way to go for a Nardi or other wheel? Does anybody know which other models the P6 shares steering wheel boss dimensions with?
 
Hi
My Nardi wheel is 14 inches diameter . This works well with power steering
There are no issues with horn or indicator controls etc, these are all stalk mounted below the wheel on the steering column .
I don't think the Rover wheel retaining bolt PCD matches any after market wheel .I couldn't find a commercial Rover to Nardi adaptor and I couldn't find a wheel which matched the Rover bolt pattern .The answer with the Nardi wheel is to have a boss machined up so that the boss can be bolted to the Rover steeering column flange ,the Nardi wheel is then bolted to holes tapped into the boss . This would work for most after market wheels
You do have to consider the depth of the dishing [ ie the distance between the rim and the centre of the wheel ]of the two wheels . The Rover wheel has a deep dish , the Nardi wheel is much flatter The adaptor boss needs to be thick enough to to keep the new wheel rim well clear of the dash and the column switch stalks .My boss is 11/4 inches thick and was machined from an aluminum billet .This gives lots metal to accomodate the threads for the bolts for the new wheel .
Cheers
RVW
 
I am desperately looking for a boss for an Astrali steering wheel for my 3500S - I believe a Mountney boss would also be OK. The centre is 100mm dia with 6 holes. My steering column has 38 splines. I have posted under the Wanted section also. Alternatvely I would buy a wheel + boss complete. Can anyone help?

Dave
 
I've bought a Mountney wood rim steering wheel which looks great, if only I could get a boss to fit the car nad wheel that would be even better, 'cos I could use it then! Mountney specify their boss MB033 is the correct fitment for the P6 2000 and 3500. However having bought one of said bosses new it's too small for the steering column and has no lugs to self cancel the indicators! PLEASE help! Any ideas on what boss will fit a Mountney wheel with six holes and the steering column. Would it be expensive to have one made up?
 
Interesting - that happened to me to - the MB033 boss that I also bought does not fit - it has only 28 splines (I counted them!) - so I am still looking for a boss to fit my Astrali wheel which has the same 6 hole fitting as the Mountney. I may have to bite the bullet and buy a Moto-lita complete with boss for £150!!!
 
There I was thinking I am up for big $$$ for a wheel and boss...until I pulled the centre cap off. A liitle movement was apparent, so a decent pull got it off, no need for tools. Has to be lined up dead on to get the 3 dowels to fit.
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Wheel is already a separate item from the boss. PCD of the 3 bolts looks like 2.5", with a centre hole of 1.5" . Now all I need is a decent wheel that I can make 3 holes in to meet my boss, and be hidden by the cap. And anything I do will be reversible!
 
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A lot of wheels have a large dia 9 hole fixing. Motolita do a wheel with a six hole sm dia fixing for a Cobra. You could enquire as to the PCD, it may bolt right on. Depends on how much you want to spend versus hassle factor.

AC Cobra Wood Rim OEM - Moto-Lita
 
They list the 6 bolt Cobra wheel as having a PCD of 62mm, which is 2.44" - my boss PCD is 2.5" - is it really 2.44" - why would they have used that back in the 60s? Also the holes are in wrong orientation, and I would have to drill 6 more holes. But it is a possibility, if I cant find anything else. From the look the centre hole is too big to hold the std 3500 centre cap.
 
Does the 3500 centre cap not clip in the boss ?
If the PCD was the same, and the holes evenly spaced you could mount the wheel, then remove the boss from the column and orientate the wheel on the splines.
 
I assumed that the centre cap was retained in the hole in the centre of the wheel centre plate, but it might be that the boss is also involved. Wont know until I actually remove the wheel. Moving the boss on its splines would require the cancelling device to be moveable - do you know this is doable? I am quite suspicious of the 2.44" (actually given as 62mm by Motolita) - why would a Brit company working for a Brit company exporting to USA in the 60s use metric measurements? I am also looking for a local wheel supplier who might have something presentable that could fit.
 
I thought of the cancelling aspect. I am not familiar with the Rover item, if it cannot be moved to suit and I wanted that wheel I would disable it altogether and fit an audible buzzer. Black Indicator Buzzer With Diodes from Car Builder Or re drill the boss in between the existing holes to suit the wheel.
I have a wood rim Motolita on my Cobra and it is an absolute delight to hold. The PCD discrepancy would not worry me.

Anyway just my 2p.
 
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