Shelby Steering Wheel????? Give me your opinions...

Is there any Numbers/Letters stamped on the back side of the Steering Wheel Spokes?
David.

 

Interesting. It looks like I might have the same wheel. It was on 1497 when I bought it. Mine has no markings either.

 

What is the smaller collar for? It looks like someone took a original steering wheel adapter and cut it down.

 

the wheel you have looks like the same wheel available at TONY D. BRANDA Mustang and Shelby partys sells....looks like it fits 65 Shelbys?

http://store.cobranda.com/costwhkit.html

Jim

 

The difference in the wheels that Branda sells and the Ginnys is the depth of the dish of the spokes. The wheel pictured appears to have the deeper dish spokes unlike the ones Branda sells. Brian ,I will reask my question on the thin coller in the other picture with the S1MS inside because I guess I wasn't clear enough. What is the thin collar for- not which one is it? The normal arrangment is -the thick steering wheel adapter bolts to the column and the wheel bolts to the adapter with the center cap which has a O ring so the center cap would be compression secured to the center. The thin collar that you pictured appears to be a cut down version of the correct thicker coller.It almost looks like it was used as some kind of spacer.

 

Branda has in the past; sourced his 15" '65 Shelby steering wheels from
Moto Lita, Thruxton Racing Circuit, Andover, England. I believe he still sells
their steering wheels. Since Moto Lita was the original supplier to Shelby
American of the 15" stamped center steering wheel; I would think the dish
depth would be the same.

Don't confuse this wheel with the one Branda sells as a "one for all" ( fits 65 thru 70 Mustangs/Shelbys ) that includes a hub with a functioning horn button. The dish on that wheel is a different depth.
shlby66
.

 

The steering wheels that Branda sells have a very slight dish and the older ones made by the same OEM used on the 1965 GT 350's have a deeper dish.. it is a understandable assumption that one would think they would be the same but the reality is just because the wheels are made by the same OEM doesn't mean they are made to the same specs as the old ones. That is why the repros are 350-400.00 and the originals are 1500.00 to 3000.00-you can tell the difference. On the the thin ring or collar I am always learning and I am still trying to understand its use also .I don't have the final answer but I do know some facts.It has a engineering number which makes it appear legitimate . It couldn't be a STAND alone adapter that the wheel bolted to because the diameter of the inner hole is too large,there is nothing that the steering column bolt can bolt to. It has counter sunk holes for the screws just like the ones that hold the steering wheel down so it would have to be on the top side of the steering wheel and the screws would have to countersink into it. It doesn't appear to be threaded like the regular Shelby steering wheel adapter and so it wouldn't hold the wheel but screws could pass through it. It is as if it was made to be used in conjunction with wheel and adapter, unlike the version that is normally seen ,It is as if it went over the steering center and longer screws went through it . That would make it stick up from the center of the wheel. Maybe it was a real early version and they thought they needed extra clearance for the center plastic emblem to fit. The steering wheel itself is a later 15" version. I can't understand how it could be used in a R model. Anybody else got a idea or clue?

 

Brian,

The 1982 registry also lists the R-Model steering wheel as S1MS 3600-B. My sources say that production G.T.350s used S1MS 3600-A steering wheels with S1MS 13829-A adapters (manufactured by Corvico). Furthermore, my copy of the 1966 Mustang Group II parts list (obtained directly from Chuck Cantwell) shows that the S1MS 13829-B part was used on that car along with the S1MS 3600-B steering wheel. Based on this information, I would think that your adapter would be correct for an R-Model or Group II Mustang. As with anything Shelby, I could be wrong on any one of these points, but this is my opinion.

 

Roy, that is good and fine to find back up to support that the part was intended to be used on a R model or TA car in theory. But the million dollar question is for the last several posts have been- HOW was this part used in practical application in relation to the steering wheel?????????????????????? That will determine if the part has been modified and maybe if it was intended or not for the pictured steering wheel or not. I would like to find out as I have been around a lot of original R models and 66 TA coupes and never noticed this part or how it was used. I would like to find out what I missed. I might be missing the forest for the trees but for the life of me I can't figure how that part was used in conjunction with the steering column and wheel or why .

 

Bob,

I wasn't trying to say that the steering wheel or adapter was used on an R-Model or a T/A Group II, just that it was on the parts list. As you noted, background information. I'll email Chuck and see if he can shed any light on the subject. The funny thing with anything Shelby related is that you know the information is out there, its just a matter of finding the right person and if he/she is willing to share what he has. It can be very frustrating at times.

 

Re: Shelby Steering Wheel adapter puzzle solved!!!

Well I went to the Bat cave and in my 65 Shelby parts I found a unmodified S1MS 13829-B steering wheel adapter and as I suspected the one pictured and in question has been cut down for some unknown purpose . There are 2 variations that I am familiar with-1 being made of aluminum and the other S1MS -B is made of pot metal. Both styles look the same and look like the adapter pictured bolted to the steering wheel in the first post. Both styles were used on street cars as well as competition models.The thin one in the picture which is a modified original adapter is not a correct part for a 65 Shelby in it's modified condition. The adapter that is installed on the steering wheel in the first post has the correct appearence.

 

Brian,You asked for opinions and that is what I gave ,I do have considerable background in these matters not to say that I am always right far from it but in this instance I feel strongly about my conclusion. If you read my last post I discribed "2" different adaptors ,1 aluminum and one is potmetal. The first adaptor that you have bolted to the steering wheel is probably made out of aluminum. if not it is a repro. The potmetal adapter is physically different from the aluminum one on the back side. That pot metal one has the S1MS-B cast into the back side. As I sit here and type I am looking at a unmolisted adapter made out of potmetal with the S1MS -B engineering number cast into it. It is full size as it should be . The back side looks the same as your shorty one. As I look down into the backside I can see that if you made a cut far enough down it would look identical to the one you have pictured. If it was supposed to be cutdown for some reason it would carry a DIFFERENT engineering number. The engineering number inside the full size one I have with the S1MS-B is what they refer to on court TV as the "SMOKING GUN". I have confered with other 65 Shelby judges and owners on this matter and they concur with my conclusion. I believe you picked up a valuable steering wheel and what looks like a stock adapter at the estate sale however If you still persist in wanting to believe the modified short adapter part is something different then what I have concluded then that is your perogative but the evidence does not support it.

 

The first 2 pictures are of the unaltered 65 Shelby steering wheel adapter and the 3rd is a picture of the shortened adapter from the first post for comparison.