wood rim steering wheels - fitting a Nardi wheel to a  NADAP6 3500S

R

ripvanwinkle

New Member
Hi
I've just acquired a sexy classic Nardi wood rim wheel which has a 6 bolt fixing on 75 mm PCD , but I can't find a suitable boss for my P6, Apparently all P6s use the same splined shaft for the steering wheel
Nardi list a boss for the SDI and later Rovers , but not the P6
Moto lita in the UK sell a Moto lita boss for the P6 and have a suitable Moto lita wheel . They will also will sell a conversion to allow a Moto lita wheel to fit a Nardi boss , but won't do a Nardi wheel to moto lita boss adaptor . Neither will they publish the PCD and bolt arrangement for their P6 boss and wheel .
At present I'm snookered . can any one advise a sensible solution ?
The PCD and bolt spacing of the Moto lita boss would be helpful . I could then investigate a local machine shop to see if they could make up an adaptor
Cheers
RVW :(
 
I just did a quick Google for Moto Lita PCD and found this line of text on the Lifeline Fire extinguisher site..

The Lifeline 9 hole boss fits all 101.6mm PCD steering wheels including Moto-Lita.
Click to expand...

The P6 Motolita looks to be 9 Hole, looking at ebay item 120223354192
 
Forgot to add, looking at the Motolita / Nardi adaptors ( ebay 120226720160 ), it looks like the nardi wheel has a much smaller centre, so it would be tricky to make it fit the Motolita hub.

Of course you could make your own hub by cuttin up a standard wheel (or get your engineer to do it).
 
Hi
Thanks for the information . The Motolita boss is bigger than the Nardi wheel centre . So its either surgery on the existing wheel ,or fabricate an adaptor plate drilled and tapped on the bottom for a Motolita boss; drilled and tapped for the Nardi bolt circle on top
Or take the easy way out ,flog the Nardi and buy a Motolita wheel with the proceeds.
Any ideas on the spec for the P6 steering column splines . Surely they are not unique to the P6?? . The Nardi site lists many British cars but stops at around 1976 .Enquiries are met with a polite Italian version of " Duh???"
I could always forget the anorak delving ,leave every thing as is , until I have finished the really important stuff , like the darned rear brakes !
Cheers
RVW
 
Hi
I finally found the answer to my question .I prised off the centre cap set in the original leather covered 3500S Rover steering wheel . I had assumed this wheel was a single piece unit which was fitted directly to the steering column splines . in fact the original Pover wheel is bolted to a boss which fits onto the column .
All I have to do is : remove the original wheel , get an adaptor machined up , bolt the adaptor to the boss and the Nardi wheel to the adaptor .
I don't know if the leather covered 3500S wheel is a special unit , or if all P6 wheels bolt onto a separate boss
Cheers
Patrick :D
 
There are four original equipment P6 wheels. First the obvious plastic standard one fitted from launch to last car. This is one piece, except for a bit of trim across the centre spoke carrying the model designation, and has the splines moulded in. Next in date order is the fashionably rare optional "wood" rim wheel. The same diameter as standard (power steering hadn't happened yet) with a set of two aluminium spokes at a drooped angle, a moulded plastic rim with moulded on (and often worn off) wood grain effect and a seperate boss carrying the splines with Rover shield centre cap identical to the later power steering wheels. Lastly, and launched with the NADA 3500S are the two varieties of power steering wheel. These have shrunk an inch in diameter but are otherwise identical to the wood rim wheel. Type 1 has the spokes in exposed alloy, type 2 has them wrapped in leather. A second boss appears with the Rover shield replaced by a 3500S logo. Apart from the 3500S boss only going onto NADA and European 3500S it's not obvious what determined which of the combinations you got. Wheels have swapped cars to such an extent that you can't go on what you see today. I always thought that the 3500S got the exposed spokes and the autos the leather clad, but I'm beginning to wonder whether there may be a year factor as well.

Chris



Edited By chrisyork on 1209796385
 
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