My GTO has an old aftermarket wheel in it that needs replacing. My question is about the depth of steering wheels. When I adjust my seat so I can comfortably reach the pedals, I feel like I'm too close to the wheel, I feel a bit crowded. I'm looking to get the wheel a little farther away from me. Are the Pontiac wheels you can get from OPG or Ames deep or are they on the shallower side? I'm open to a non-Pontiac wheel as well. I attached a pic of the wheel I have now (I know I need to clean up some of my wiring).

3 hours ago, Wfin73 said:

My GTO has an old aftermarket wheel in it that needs replacing. My question is about the depth of steering wheels. When I adjust my seat so I can comfortably reach the pedals, I feel like I'm too close to the wheel, I feel a bit crowded. I'm looking to get the wheel a little farther away from me. Are the Pontiac wheels you can get from OPG or Ames deep or are they on the shallower side? I'm open to a non-Pontiac wheel as well. I attached a pic of the wheel I have now (I know I need to clean up some of my wiring).

Well that doesn’t appear to be a very deep dished wheel, so you won’t gain much in room if that’s true! 
You need to be comfortable in your position of driving that’s for sure! So a couple things to consider. If you go aftermarket a smaller wheel will I’ve you more room, but it won’t change arm positioning as far as how your arms extend out or bend. Adding blocks under the front or back legs of the seat will change the angle of the seat, which can help with positioning. Last, changing pedal position by changing the angle of the pedals. Which requires cut and welding can effectively move the pedals out or in depending on what you do!

I would suggest try the seat angle idea first that may be the least intrusive!

As an alternative to your steering wheel, might I suggest you look for relocation brackets for your bucket seats. There are kits available that relocate the mounting brackets of the driver and passenger seat two inches further back - away from the steering wheel.

 Universal kit from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/YearOne-Wheels-Universal-relocation-brackets/dp/B01H611QTE

 

Kit speciific to GM A-bodys from JEGS

https://www.jegs.com/i/Golden-Star/189/SB03-64S/10002/-1

I still have plenty of room to put my seat back, but if I do, I’m reaching for the pedals. I have my seat where I want it, I just feel cramped by the wheel. I’m 5’11”  so it’s not that I’m short, maybe it just is what it is and I’m Just spoiled by modern cars where you can push the wheel farther away if you need to. 

1 hour ago, Wfin73 said:

I still have plenty of room to put my seat back, but if I do, I’m reaching for the pedals. I have my seat where I want it, I just feel cramped by the wheel. I’m 5’11”  so it’s not that I’m short, maybe it just is what it is and I’m Just spoiled by modern cars where you can push the wheel farther away if you need to. 

I will presume my suggestions didn’t interest you, and that’s ok. Still I had similar issues with my “69” Z! I wanted a 12” deep dish wheel! There was a mechanically functional reason behind it, but that’s not relevant here! So to effectively change the dynamics for me I did exactly what I indicated to you, I changed the seat trajectory! Which gave me the same, actually even better, comfort for my positioning and the added clearance because of the reduction in diameter gave me exactly what I needed. 
 

The other thing you can do, which I would have done if the seat reconfigurations hadn’t worked, is shorten the steering column. And yes I have done that on other cars. You could also install a adjustable steering column from an other GM car or buy an aftermarket unit from somebody like Summit or JEGS. 

Edited September 8, 20205 yr by Last Indian

Would you suggest putting the blocks under the front or the back to make more room?

2 hours ago, Wfin73 said:

Would you suggest putting the blocks under the front or the back to make more room?

Well, to keep it cheap and simple to start, get some 1/2” thick pine board or ply wood. Cut some pieces that are 2” square. Then drill a clearance hole large enough for the bolt to go through. You are also going to need to acquire longer bolts, so make sure you know their thread size as well as length. I would start by putting one 1/2 block  under each front leg. This will tip the back of the seat backwards. Basically pushing your upper body further away from the steering wheel. Which means that possibly you might need to move the seat one click closer to achieve the same results you previously had putting you feet one click closer to the pedals. Next you could try two 1/2 thick blocks under each leg. You’ll just have two play with it. You can also change the thickness of the blocks,  but if you find something that works, now you can look at steering wheel configuration. If the blocks do work, ultimately you will need to make them out of steel or aluminum and get good high quality bolts.

Edited September 8, 20205 yr by Last Indian