I think about changing up my wheel from time to time, but then I’ll look at it, and remember why I did it in the first place. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Mike Resurrecting an old thread here I appreciate, but, when you fitted your 348 wheel was it a direct fitment? I have a 5.2 F355 and am looking to fit a 348 wheel and wondering if I'll need an adapter. Many thanks Will
Hi Will, I used HIll Engineering Adapter SWS-355 B. https://www.ricambiamerica.com/sws-355b-f355-steering-wheel-spacer.html You will need a 3 ohm resistor attached to the airbag connector. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks Mike, looks so good. My notifications don't appear to be working so I've only just seen your post! Thanks for helping out.
I finally had some time to get the steering wheel situation on my F355 sorted just the way I wanted it. My car came to me with the much loved early non-airbag steering wheel. While this wheel was nice, mine needs some TLC and I actually prefer a wheel with a thicker rim. I searched through my selection of period MOMO wheels and came up with just the right wheel. It's a MOMO Zagato Design wheel with a date code of 1992. It's similar to the Monte Carlo with more sculpting on the back side and different grips, and of course is differentiated by the leather center cover. This wheel was original equipment on the 1992-93 Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ, aka "Il Mostro". MOMO also sold a limited number of these in the aftermarket. They are pretty rare but not impossible to find. What a difference in driving! The wheel is just slightly smaller than the original but with the adapter it falls right to hand and I really enjoy the chunkier rim. Thanks to Daniel @ Ricambi for helping out with the Hill Engineering bits needed. I ended up using the following: Non-Airbag Hub > Hill 6-bolt MOMO Adapter > Hill 50mm Spacer > Wheel Image Unavailable, Please Login
Sorry guys, but none of your wheels look good. The early non-airbag wheel is beautiful. Everything else ranges from barely acceptable to terrible.
I had one of these on my Alfa Milano Verde, I agree a wonderful wheel. They also came standard on the Honda NSX-S. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Has anyone thought of contacting TRW and asking if they'd make another run of the early wheels? If a retailer approached them about placing a wholesale order and then handled the sales, and if the price could be in the $1,000-$1,500 range, I bet a lot of these would be sold. Not sure the legalities here -- maybe TRW isn't allowed to repop a part like this.
I've actually looked into that only to find that TRW has changed hands/revamped as a company 2-3x since the 90's. Look into the history and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Not even close to being the same company it once was. I bet the tooling to re-produce these is long gone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRW_Automotive TRW Automotive was an American company based in Livonia, Michigan. Tracing its roots from TRW Inc.,[2][3] TRW Automotive's production featured a variety of automotive products including integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, seat belts and airbags, and engine valves among others.[4] The company's operation activities were divided into 4 segments, Chassis Systems, Occupant Safety Systems, Electronics, and Automotive Components.[3] According to its sales statistics, in 2003, TRW Automotive was the eighth largest automotive supplier worldwide and the seventh-largest company in the Detroit Metro Area. The firm had nearly 64,000 employees in 22 countries worldwide.[4] In 2002, aerospace company Northrop Grumman purchased TRW,[5] and subsequently sold the TRW's automotive division to private equity firm Blackstone Group for $4.73 billion. According to the final agreement, Blackstone owned 80.4% of the business, while Northrop Grumman acquired 19.6% of it. In a statement, John Plant, the CEO of TRW Automotive said, "The company is now 100 percent focused on the needs of automotive customers, and we have an exciting opportunity to capitalize on our position as the global leader in automotive safety."[4] In 2009, TRW Automotive made net profit earnings of $76 million. The next year, the firm had a profit of $189 million, which was more than double than the previous year. According to Plant, that was a result of the industry recovery following the 2007-08 financial crisis and the company's venture into emerging markets.[6] On September 15, 2014, it was announced that German car parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen would buy TRW Automotive for approximately $13.5 billion including debt.[7][8] The takeover was completed on the 15th May 2015, and TRW Automotive now operates as part of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, as Division 'Active & Passive Safety Technology'.[9 Remember... this steering wheel was made in the early 90's.
From the Challenge car perspective, this is the omp wheel that came in the Challenge kit when my car was assembled by Miller Motorcars in early 1995... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
If I had one of these wheels, I would find a manufacturer to make a perfect reproduction and then offer them for sale. Gotta be money to be made here. It's a steering wheel, not an engine. Quite a simple piece to make.
I changed my steering wheel to the momo alacantara racing wheel, but I have to drive with it in the highest position in order to see the gauges. I am six feet tall and find the wheel position a little uncomfortable. The alcantara is nice to the touch in both hot and cold weather, but I find it a little more slippery than leather. 3.3 ohm resistor is the correct one but does not turn off airbag light without a friendly mechanic with an SD1 scanner. I am now adapting a Porsche 930S leather wheel to my 355. I have this wheel in a 930, 968 and 928 and I find it the most comfortable and best looking one. My leather shop is pressing a cavallino into a new piece of matching leather for the horn hub. It also will need a custom hub adapter, will start with the momo piece. Will post pics when it is ready.
I've had this DND wheel on and off the car the last month or so. It's the only carbon/red stitching wheel I could find. 350mm Depth 50mm. I tried it with a Luisi/Momo style adapter and too much of the column workings were visible. The hill adapter looks better and is much easier to swap the wheels back and forth. (I'm changing my mind hourly) The paddles are further away and although I can reach them with my fingers, I haven't driven it yet. I notice the pictures above have what appears to be spacers but I don't know if I can be bothered. I'll try it as is and probably just end up with the standard airbag wheel back which to be honest, doesn't look much but feels nice in the hands. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yep agreed Momo Tuner 350 looks and feels perfect on a hills adapter. Paddles in just the right spot Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
You've found the right wheel, Philip. It even has red stitching to match that in your interior. Well done!
Hi all, has anyone bought the Ferrari horn button for a Momo wheel? I just bought the Mod 07 for my 355 and I'm not sure which model horn I should get. Here's one I see on sale at eBay, size 58mm. Will this work? Thx in advance. https://www.ebay.com/itm/154687784793
Depends on the hub boss you use. If you use a Momo or luisi deformable adaptor that totally replaces the clock spring and the horn button is held in place with a retainer ring then you use a button with one wiring tab as the "earth" is through the ring/hub. If you are using a hills adapter then you need a button with 2 tabs. that's what I found anyway and I have both bosses
