Install/Uninstall Rim Blow Steering Wheel

[71cudajoe]

Does anyone have a diagram for how to install (uninstall) a rim blow steering wheel? I want to uninstall the wheel from my 71 Cuda and just wonder what steps to take so I don't damage or hurt the steering wheel itself.

[67vertman]

Contact Plumbeeper.,  you can look him up here.....http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?action=profile;u=4402

He restore them so I think he will know the best way to remove them. 

[tommyg29]

  Plumbeeper is the man to consult,
but the process begins with the trickiest part: removing the center cap by prying it off CAREFULLY from the edges with a slim plastic trim prybar or similar tool (those hex nuts in the cap are fake!) and then removing the large center nut on the end of the shaft down inside the crush can, disconnecting the wire, and then either using a puller, or if its not on too tight sometimes you can pull it off by hand, but most likely a puller will be needed.

[71cudajoe]

Plumbeeper is the man to consult,
but the process begins with the trickiest part: removing the center cap by prying it off CAREFULLY from the edges with a slim plastic trim prybar or similar tool (those hex nuts in the cap are fake!) and then removing the large center nut on the end of the shaft down inside the crush can, disconnecting the wire, and then either using a puller, or if its not on too tight sometimes you can pull it off by hand, but most likely a puller will be needed.

Thanks, Guys. I thought there might be a bit of a trick to it, so I want to figure it out for sure before I try anything.

[JayBee]

Once you carefully pry the center cap off there's 3 nuts that hold just the wheel to the column. I take mine off every winter and store it inside.

[tommyg29]

yep, forgot about the 3 nuts, and in fact, you may not need to remove the crush can at all, but I did, to shorten it.
I hated the way the wheel seemed to sit way too close. I shortened the can by about 1.5-2" and it makes a big difference.

[plumbeeper]

It only takes a couple minutes to remove a rimblow steering wheel. The first thing you want to do is protect the spokes with some masking tape just in case you slip while removing the center cap. The center cap just snaps onto the wheel with a spring clip so it's just a matter of un-snapping it. Using a stiff blade putty knife, pry the cap off gently and slowly work around the cap as you pry. You want to push the handle of the knife away from you so you're putting pressure on the center of the cap where it is attached to the wheel. If you pull the knife towards you, then you are taking a chance at breaking the cap.

When you remove the 3 nuts holding the wheel onto the column, be ready to disconnect the pigtail on the back before you move the wheel too far. It is not very long and may break if you are not careful. You do not need to remove the crush can adapter.

Dave

[71cudajoe]

Thanks so very much, everyone, for the tips. I'm glad I asked as I figured there would be some tricks.

[67vertman]

I told you Dave was the man for this project!

Thanks for chiming in Dave. 

[Tom 71 Cuda]

I have just purchased a Rim Blow wheel for my 71 Cuda.
I know that I will need to purchase a new centre cap.
Can anyone tell me What else I may need to purchase to make the installation complete on
a non Rim Blow car?

[tommyg29]

email plumbbeeper. he hooked me up a couple years ago with a rebuild kit for the horn switch, which includes the rubber ring that runs around the wheel. My rubber switch was old and hardened so much I thought it was plastic.
As for the cap, you have a couple options. The 70's and I think some very early 71 cuda's had the little barracuda fish on there. You can spend a LOT of $$ and get a realistic repro, or go the cheap way like I did and buy a replica fish from dales cuda shop:
http://www.dalescudashop.com/bafiem.html
and then attach it to a blank cap (which I already had). Or just get a blank cap, which is "more" correct for a 71. You can also find them on ebay.
The real fish caps are indented, but...I preferred to save the $$ 

[Tom 71 Cuda]

Thanks Tommyg!
My car is a non rimblow car. Do you know if I will need an adapter for it or will it just blot on and the horn hook up too?

Tom

[Grec]

The hook ups are the same. You're good to go! 

[TinCuda]

I just start another thread with kind of the same questions before I ran across this one.  Thanks guys, I would like to hear how your install goes.


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