Correction it is the HJ was the last model with a 5mm GTS steering wheel not the HX.
Correction it is the HJ was the last model with a 5mm GTS steering wheel not the HX.
My HX Monaro was an early build built HX, 11/76, from the Elizabeth plant and is fitted with a 5mm Steering Wheel and also has the lift up front lid console fitted. I was wondering if the assembly plant was using existing stock in the early run of this model as I have seen HX Monaoro's fitted with both types of consoles but to be honest haven't taken much notice of the steering wheels on these vehicles.Originally Posted by Blocker
Cheers
HZ Persian Sand Mk2 Sandman (under full restoration)
HX Chamois Monaro GTS
There was much debate on here a while ago about when the change over occurred. No answer was agreed upon.
I'm sure it came down to the ADR rule change.
The GMH drawings for the 3mm thick spoked wheel was first done in 1972. They are not available for display or copying. They have some slight minor changes noted which didn't affect the visual aspect. So it was obvious they were already planning the change at that stage. Bridgestone would have then tooled up for production and submitted samples for approval. After that the wheels would have been produced, shipped and installed. As to when the older stock ran out and the new ones installed it is probably not noted anywhere these days. In regard to previous requests the factory is definitely not interested in restoring any older wheels regardless of colour or thickness. They manufacture NEW wheels according to customers orders.
Correction.... Early HZ Sandman. The change to the 3mm spoke wheels was Jan 78.
HX and HZ T bar Auto were available with the HJ style lift up lid console as an option, this option was not available on manual floor shift cars.
Answer is in the HZ parts manual. January 1978.
Last edited by Blocker; 03-04-2014 at 06:40 PM.
I wouldn't put too much credence into the manual. The reason for the modification had to do with an Australian Design Rule change.
The 3mm thick steering wheels were fitted way before January '78.
I would. I know quite a few people with original 77 HZ GTS and Sandman that have 5mm thick spokes. HZ manual states 5mm wheel to be fitted to ADR 25 vehicles and 3mm wheels to be fitted to ADR 25a vehicles. ADR 25a became effective as of 1st Jan 1978.
I do concede that the new wheel could have been fitted at some plants prior to this date and some early HZ's could be fitted with the 3mm wheel.
ADR 25 is in reference to Anti Theft locks, it has nothing to do with steering wheels.
You may want to refer to ADR 10—Steering Column;
The function of this Australian Design Rule is to minimise crushing or penetrating injuries to drivers due to the ‘Steering Column' as a result of frontal impact.
Yeah this is covering old ground from this very thread. ADR 25a is correct.
For some reason I thought this was another thread that had started (again) on the same topic.
The problem is 30-40 years after release people have changed or purchased new steering wheels so you see 3mm wheels on older cars often. Doesn't help when the owner tells you it's factory original when clearly it's not! Sean covered it well back on page 3.
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