Steering wheel relocate, Move steering wheel Options

[mwizard1]

Does anyone know of kit to center the steering wheel on the seat?

[mepstein]

There is no kit to do that. Might as well accept that the car is a bit quirky compared to modern cars and enjoy the difference.

[sixnotfour]

There is no kit to do that. Might as well accept that the car is a bit quirky compared to modern cars and enjoy the difference.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[JmuRiz]

To be honest, until I saw an over-head photo, I drove for years not realizing it wasn’t. And yes, it’s a thing with all sports cars earlier than the 80’s that they have oddball quirks (nutty footwells, crooked steering wheels up/down/left/right, bad seats, etc.)

The easiest option would be canting the seat-rails a smidge…and that’s not easy either.

[rjames]

I first realized the off-centered steering wheel when I put a new driver's side floor pan in. I thought I had made a mistake on where I welded the seat brackets!

[mepstein]

I never realized it until someone on this site mentioned it. My 914 was my first car so even now at 58, when I slide into one, it all feels normal. Even reaching for the wiper knob on the dash (early car).

[worn]

To be honest, until I saw an over-head photo, I drove for years not realizing it wasn’t. And yes, it’s a thing with all sports cars earlier than the 80’s that they have oddball quirks (nutty footwells, crooked steering wheels up/down/left/right, bad seats, etc.)

The easiest option would be canting the seat-rails a smidge…and that’s not easy either.

One of my favorite quirks is the way that British sports cars often had a narrow, off angle footwell such that the drivers feet were slowly roasted to medium well done next to the transmission tunnel. That is one of the reasons you can buy fireproof ballerina driver’s shoes at outrageous prices.

[mwizard1]

To be honest, until I saw an over-head photo, I drove for years not realizing it wasn’t. And yes, it’s a thing with all sports cars earlier than the 80’s that they have oddball quirks (nutty footwells, crooked steering wheels up/down/left/right, bad seats, etc.)

The easiest option would be canting the seat-rails a smidge…and that’s not easy either.

One of my favorite quirks is the way that British sports cars often had a narrow, off angle footwell such that the drivers feet were slowly roasted to medium well done next to the transmission tunnel. That is one of the reasons you can buy fireproof ballerina driver’s shoes at outrageous prices.

I have the driver shoes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) I use them in my race car.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

wow picky! Get in a pantera and really feel the steering wheel off center!!!!!

Does anyone know of kit to center the steering wheel on the seat?

[Chris914n6]

Problem is then the pedals get really skewed.

It bothered me too, so I figured out a way and never actually did it. All I've done so far is add a spacer to the rear bolts and tilt the wheel up about 1/2". Now I can better see gauges.
Fixing the pedal spacing is higher on my list.

[930cabman]

Does anyone know of kit to center the steering wheel on the seat?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

Funny, I never noticed. Now it will drive me crazy knowing I am more crooked than I thought. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[PanelBilly]

My arms are offset to match the car after all these years

[GregAmy]

I think you just ruined for me...I never even noticed it...until today...

Thanks!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)

[930cabman]

My arms are offset to match the car after all these years

+1

You guys are great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[wonkipop]

My arms are offset to match the car after all these years

+1

You guys are great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

i have had to go through it twice.
offset arms once when it was left hand drive.
and.........then right hand drive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

it actually blew my mind a bit way back in 1992 when i was converting the car to discover the steering wheel was angled.
i had never actually noticed.

and its all so perfect left hand drive ----why would you want to change it.
its so perfectly ergonomic in relation to the pedals. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

try replicating that ergonomic perfection in a right hand drive conversion and you will discover the true meaning of mental torment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
forget the steering wheel. the clutch pedal will drive you to distraction getting it right.


even the factory could not reproduce the perfection of the left hand drive 911s in the right hand drive models. which may explain why there was never a right hand drive 914. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Superhawk996]

even the factory could not reproduce the perfection of the left hand drive 911s in the right hand drive models. which may explain why there was never a right hand drive 914. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Let’s face it, the rest of the world is just waiting for the 75 or so RHD countries to figure out they have been doing it wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

There are so many cars out there with offset steering wheels and pedals it’s ridiculous, most people just don’t notice. As Dr914 stated, the 914 isn’t even among the worst.

[gereed75]

From memory ( not recent experience) the early 911 pedals are pretty far right

[wonkipop]

even the factory could not reproduce the perfection of the left hand drive 911s in the right hand drive models. which may explain why there was never a right hand drive 914. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Let’s face it, the rest of the world is just waiting for the 75 or so RHD countries to figure out they have been doing it wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

There are so many cars out there with offset steering wheels and pedals it’s ridiculous, most people just don’t notice. As Dr914 stated, the 914 isn’t even among the worst.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

you won't find me disagreeing with the idea the whole world should be left hand drive.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

i've experienced both and in a stick shift car it sure makes sense.
much more natural feel to clutch and stick operation across the body rather than down one side of the body. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

the reason for right hand drive has always been clear to me.
its pretty much a legacy of the british empire - apart from two things.

1) japan. not entirely clear to me why its right hand drive. i think it might have something to do with the early car industry in japan being that it built british designed cars under license but not positive thats the reason. this was between the wars i think

2) and canada - not being right hand drive given its status as a commonwealth nation and former dominion of the empire. i guess the reason must be the adjacency of the USA right next door where basically the entire car industry was.





i've been told that hong kong still remains right hand drive despite having been absorbed into china. that must be fun if you drive between hk and bejing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) chinese drivers are bad enough (based on real life experience with chinese tourists on the roads here) without them getting confused about which side of the road they should be on (which they also do here with sometimes deadly consequences).


-------

the only other car i have noticed a slightly angular steering wheel (ie pointed slightly towards centre of car) is a merc i once drove. i think it was an 80s merc. have not really noticed it on anything else. i don't think my type 3 squareback had an off axis steering wheel and neither did my mothers beetle. just the pedals offset to centre but because the cars were so narrow you kind of don't get too put off by it. its more pronounced in the 914.

[mlindner]

And moving the wheel that would put more angle in the universal joints is not a good idea. Best, Mark

[bkrantz]

Could be worse. Could be a vintage Italian car, with a horizontal steering wheel like a bus.