John Burns Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 I'm curious about the steering wheel on my 1970 Monte- is it possible a 71 wheel made it on from the factory, or was this replaced later? The build sheet has the date August 20- Baltimore plant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landshark Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 The hard plastic wheels are the same for all three years. The difference is the horn pad, which can be swapped around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarchieB Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 there are 4 possible styles that i know of that could be correct depending on the year and model of monte. A pic of your steering wheel would help to identify it.  Here are the 4 that i know of   1= 70 standard 2= 70 /71 SS 3= 71/72 stamdard 4= 72 Sport/Custom not sure how correct this is tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Great reference MarchieB!... I need a # 1 if anyone out there Knows where i might find one. RCR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70BlackCherry Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 I believe in 1970 only, the 3-spoke "cushion grip" wheel was available as an option also. This is the way to go in my opinion. Very good looking wheel, and not hard to find since they came on many Buicks and Chevelles etc. Why pay for a boring standard wheel? If you find one that is not the right color, just clean it real well and paint it with a "vinyl" paint. It will look great. Much better looking than the 4-spoke Camaro type black wheel, which by the way is not correct for 70. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmechanic Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 When you say 4 spoke camaro are you talking about picture number 2 because I have that same wheel on my 70 ss? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarchieB Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 i'm pretty sure (as i believed otherwise at one point) that #2 is the whell that came with the SS's. But hopefully someone else will confirm that. Also does anyone know if there were any other factory avaliable steering wheels other than the 4 that i posted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 You know, either way that steering wheel would look good with one of our American made steering wheel covers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarchieB Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Hey Lloyd i thought you were going back to school for computer work .... not Used Car Sales LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Well Marchie I guess that part of being a used car sales man never leaves when you see opportunity knock you have to open the door before they change their mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Burns Posted February 1, 2004 Author Share Posted February 1, 2004 Marchie- Thanks for the pixs. The wheel I have is #3. Is there any reason to believe they ran out of 70 wheels at the end of the run and slapped on a 71? Either way, I'd prefer #1! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Yes, it is not uncommon for GM dealer to use the next year parts on an end of the run if they are out of stock to finish their current run. The question still remains is that what they did. This may plague you for a long time, I would find a 70 wheel and nobody would know but you and everyone that read this post...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Burns Posted February 1, 2004 Author Share Posted February 1, 2004 Damn- I'll never win the concours trophy now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr70Monte Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 I'm not sure, but I thought wheel #2 was only available on the '71 SS454's & the '72 Custom's that had tilt wheel. '70 SS454's had the standard wheel #1, unless the optional (NK1) 3 spoke sport wheel was ordered. Here is a pic of that wheel in my '70, Â Just another note, 70BlackCherry said something about painting the wheel to match, in '70 Chevrolet only offered this wheel was in black. Other Gm models used this wheel also & did offer different colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hansen Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Now I am definately NOT an expert on this, but This is the first time I've seen a wheel like this one! (I think ) My 70 has wheel #1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 My 72 has wheel #2. I do not have tilt. It is considered the "sport" wheel i have always been told. GM used it well into the 80's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Does anyone out there know where i might find the wood grain insert that goes with wheel #1? Mine had a few whear marks on the wood. I painted it black,But i'm not happy with it. RCR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 I do not believe the inset is being reproduced so your best bet would be to find a good used wheel. Drop Leo Konik an email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 MarchieB, Â The sport wheel #2 was an option in 1971. I ordered it for my NON SS car (No Tilt on it then). My friend bought a new SS shortly after seeing my Monte and he did NOT have the sport wheel. I think more were found on the 1972 models than 71. They also offered the sport wheel on the Vega, Camaro and Chevelle. I don't know if they were excatly the same or not. I remember a kid in High School got a Vega GT the same time I got my Monte he referred to my sport wheel as a Vega GT wheel. Mine is badly worn (smooth) from 140,000 miles and 32 years but I'll keep it since it came with the car. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 This person does restoration on the 1970 steering wheel insert. It might be worth a try, I bought mine from him off eBay and it looks good. Â joevijil@adelphia.net JOE VIJIL 234 WEST WALNUT AVE. MONROVIA, CA 91016-3343 Phone 626 359-5400 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montefrazer Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 As a late August built car, it is very possible that the factory ran out of 70 wheels and used a 71 wheel on your car. Strange things happen at the end of a model run. Proving this happened is the problem. With out proof, you will always be told you have the wrong wheel. You can look for proof, live with the "experts" telling you that your wheel is wrong, or replace it with a 70 wheel. Your choice. I like the smaller 71 up wheel and have changed several cars to that wheel over the years. The 70 wheel is being reproduced so finding one is no problem. As far as I know, the center is not reproduced. You will need a used, restored, or NOS one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmonte Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 i took a 71 chevlle ss center and put it on my monte so it reads ss (lol) now its my ss!!!! and its a 72lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Quote: Originally posted by Mr70Monte: Now I am definately NOT an expert on this, but This is the first time I've seen a wheel like this one! (I think ) My 70 has wheel #1 Thats the same wheel I have on my car now. I thought those were 70 SS steering wheel options also. I know GM offered them on thier SS models for sure though. As far as Montes I'm not for sure on that but I figured they probably did as an option. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Wheel #2 is on my 72 Monte with tilt. It was a 402, but now a 454. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 The picture number 1 is the the wheel I remember being in my original 70. Picture number 2 is of Option number NK4 Sport Steering Wheel (4 spoke Black) It was first optioned in 1971. The other optional wheel in 71 was listed as option NK2 Custom Steering Wheel (black) I believe that was wheel number 3. The three spoke wheel in the other picture is the same on my 70SS. It was listed as option NK1 Cushioned rim Steering wheel. It was known as the Super Sport style or Corvette style 3 spoke wheel. Chevy used it on various cars From the mid sixties thru 1970. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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