Steering Wheel Help Required

[basher]

Hopefully someone can help with this issue.
I have bought a replacement steering wheel for the Elan. Noting what has been posted on here regarding Elise steering wheels fitting I purchased a Mountney M32X3VV6S - M78X/2649 in Red and Black.
It looks good and I'm really pleased with it, however I have problems.
Apparently the new wheel, will bolt directly onto the existing boss, but unfortunately this new wheel has no moulding around the back of the so you would just have this nice replacement sitting on top of the ugly boss and then the steering wheel cowling. Its no gift to the eye.
Can I buy a new Elan boss? I did get one with the wheel but its a M78X fitting an Elise, so I can't use it.
I have searched online, but I'm a little concerned that I might get the old Elan fit rather than the new Elan as there seems to be little in the way of differentiation.

Aside from this, the horn push has got a mount for two wires on the back and the Elan only has one- can I get around this.

Have I been seduced by the look of a lovely new wheel and bought something that is useless?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Mike

[Rocklobster]

So it looks like you've changed to an arrangement similar to the top left hand view. I presume you've got the mounting boss (item 15) and the cage (item 18). Item 19 is part of the original fitting.
The additional wire is for the ground. I just attached a short wire from the cage to the second tab on the horn button.
You're then missing the shroud (item 17). I trawled ebay and found one for about a tenner. tidied it all up nicely.

Picture1.png

[Rocklobster]

Here's a boot on ebay.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153177330564?epid=10023670565&hash=item23aa149384:g:TJMAAOSwvWtbmPNC

It's 67mm long and I think you'll need 59 or 60, so it'll need cutting down a bit, as I had to on mine. These are a tight fit on the Nardi boss, but they do fit over as per the pic.

Steering wheel.jpg

[basher]

Thanks for that.
Horn button sounds to be an easy fit- just sounds like I need a cowling as you say.
Only saw three on e-bay what did you call them?

[Rocklobster]

I searched for a Nardi boss cover. There aren't many on at the moment by the looks of it.

[basher]

Thanks again Pete,
I think that looks pretty smart on your car, I will get one sorted.

Mike

[robertverhey]

The boot needs to have in I/D of 100mm to fit over the bare “prongs”.that was my experience anyway

[basher]

Arrh!
Eventually got around to trying to fit steering wheel.
Boot fitted perfectly, and attached a wire to boss to allow horn to work, unfortunately the six bolt pattern does not fir the standard Elan boss. I can only assume that the steering wheel was sold with a boss to make it compatible for an Elise, it is not compatible without it and hence not going to work with an Elan. So when I bought a wheel thinking it would fit an Elise and therefore an Elan, I was wrong.

Any ideas what I can do? All I can think is to ask Mountney if they do a boss for an '89 Elan for this wheel? I can't return it, I've put a Lotus badge on it and it was months ago.
Otherwise does anyone have an Elise they want a cool steering wheel for?

[esprit888]

Arrh!
Eventually got around to trying to fit steering wheel.
Boot fitted perfectly, and attached a wire to boss to allow horn to work, unfortunately the six bolt pattern does not fir the standard Elan boss. I can only assume that the steering wheel was sold with a boss to make it compatible for an Elise, it is not compatible without it and hence not going to work with an Elan. So when I bought a wheel thinking it would fit an Elise and therefore an Elan, I was wrong.

Any ideas what I can do? All I can think is to ask Mountney if they do a boss for an '89 Elan for this wheel? I can't return it, I've put a Lotus badge on it and it was months ago.
Otherwise does anyone have an Elise they want a cool steering wheel for?

If i understand correctly you have two six bolt patterns which don't line up to allow fitting? There are typically three bolt patterns, Nardi, momo and Grant. You can buy adapters to fit a nardi on a momo pattern and Momo on a Nardi as well as both for the grant. It does move the wheel a half inch closer to you but the cover hides it. If its only the boss then its simple as these are also available for the Elan, though not cheap !

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174851836823


https://www.amazon.ca/Black-Steering-Wh ... 6572&psc=1

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3239457 ... lsrc=aw.ds

https://mrsteeringwheel.com/nardi-14mm- ... b-adapter/

[Rocklobster]

Alternatively, the Momo and Nardi bosses are dimensionally very similar except for the hole pattern in the top mounting plate. The pitch circle diameters and the phasing of the M5 wheel mounting holes differ. If this is the problem in your case, you can drill and tap the top plate very easily, 4.2mm drill and 5mm x 0.8 tap from ebay.

[Rocklobster]

I've just had a look at mine (steering wheel, that is...).

20210807_222221.jpg

The M100 wheel has a Nardi bolt pattern, that's six M5's off centre, equispaced on 74mm pcd, i.e. if you check the photo, there are no holes at the 12 or 6 o'clock positions.

The Momo and Sparco wheels have the Momo bolt pattern, six M5's on centre equispaced on 70mm pcd, i.e. from the photo, there are holes at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. The two hole patterns are 30 degrees out of phase, which means it's quite easy to drill and tap a Nardi boss for a Momo wheel and vice-versa.

[robertverhey]

Here’s the adapter I bought. Cheap as chips

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-Steerin ... 56-20017-0

[esprit888]

Here’s the adapter I bought. Cheap as chips

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-Steerin ... 56-20017-0

Says page is missing???

[Rocklobster]

As far as I can tell, the Mountney steering wheels are 6x70pcd off-centre hole pattern, the same as the Momo. If you're not sure, why not pop a photo of the wheel and boss on here so that we can see what you're working with.

[basher]

Thanks for the help all..
My present wheel I believe is totally standard as is the boss. It appears to be exactly the same as the steering wheel in Pete's photo of old and new.

This is the new one.
[url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2mg3G8c][/url]steering wheel by Michael Baldwin, on Flickr[/url]

Looks like holes at 12 and 6.
I think an adaptor would work although I may have to trim down the Mountney bolts, they seem quite long.
What do people think? Its not the most expensive (typically dropped in price since I bought it) but I think it is a good looking piece. Normally has a Mountney horn push but I have put a Lotus domed decal on it.

[Rocklobster]

Looks good.

You'll notice in my photo above that the Sparco steering wheel has the same bolt pattern as your Mountney. Mine is mounted directly onto the Nardi cage (or boss, whichever). I just drilled and tapped the top flange of the cage to suit the wheel. The top position is marked on the cage, so it's easy to centre and mark directly from the new steering wheel.

Alternatively, you can buy a universal adapter for £10 to £15, but be aware, this will move the steering wheel closer to you by whatever the depth of the adapter is. In my case, I didn't want that.

[esprit888]

Something lese that's available, wont help your current situation though, is the eccentric adapter that a lot of Esprit guys use. It can be mounted upwards or downwards to move the wheel so that you can actually read the instruments, also if mounted upwards gives you a little more legroom.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/141433159640

[robertverhey]

Here’s the adapter I bought. Cheap as chips

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-Steerin ... 56-20017-0

Says page is missing???

Maybe because it’s an Australian listing you can’t access. I’m sure these are listed in other places



Maybe search on eBay using this “Car Steering Wheel Hub Adapter Spacer Retainer For NARDI PERSONAL OMP MOMO”

Or search for my name robertverhey on Facebook and send me a message, I’m in Australia

[basher]

Thanks for the advice.
I think I may have to buy the adaptor. Although adapting the existing boss sounds like an option, I cant drill straight to save my life and my tapping skills are worse than my drilling.
I do take on board your point about making the steering wheel closer though.

[Rocklobster]

Here you go then, this should do the job.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203108509274 ... SwCU9fYt5U

You can get cheaper if you want to wait for one to arrive from China. Post a photo when you've finished.