Has anyone tried running the horn/turn signal wires thru a chrome, stainless, or painted tube over the top of the stock steering column to hide the stock harness (wrapped in electrical tape)? Im thinking there should be an easy way to connect a tube to the back of the steerng column with a threaded pipe and nut, then route the pipe on top of the column and thru the dash to column support and continue to the floor boards to exit the cab.

 

Sure. It's real easy to do unless you're still running the 'three on the tree.'

 

Floor shift, stock column and stock wiring. Floor shift. I was also considering getting some of the computer/tv conduit that is rectulanger (plastic snap together) and running the wires thru the steering column instead of on top of it. It looks like there could be room for this. What type of conduit did you use?

 

The column and column support is already set up to accept the conduit. It goes in the same place the tube for the column shifter goes. Typical EMT electrical conduit is perfect for the job. It'll slip right in place, and a small hole on the underside, between the conduit and column, next to the turn signal switch, will allow you to cleanly hide the wiring to the underside of the dash.

 

The horn wire runs down the center of the steering shaft and thru the steering box before exiting out the bottom of the box. Only the custom cab had the built in turn signal switch. I don't see why you couldn't drill another hole in the bottom of the column jacket and thread the wires inside, but if you go past the firewall, you would need to bring the wires back into the cab to make the connections under the dash. IMHO it would make more sense to bring the wires out of the jacket just behind the column drop and up behind the dash. I took the OEM custom cab steering column out and replaced it with a tilt column so I haven't looked at it in several years, but that's the way my Ididit column wiring is run.

 

I overlooked the fact there is a bearing that centers the steering shaft in the center of the steering column. I also forgot the hole in the back of the steering shaft hub and the opening thru the column to dash support is for the shift on column option, not the wiring harness (wrapped in electrical tape). Without a column shift, this is the perfect place to hide the wires. Thanks for reminding me of that. I have two IDIDIT columns in two 56 F-100. The truck in question is a newly purchased F-250 that I am workin on. Pretty much stock but as nice as I can get it with a few minor changes. Great advise here on the forum, as usual. I assume EMT 1/4"?

 

I did the stock turn signal wires on mine, have to look into making the horn work externally.

 

Oldtimer, are you going to run the stock turn signal wires thru that upper pipe then under the dash and out the firewall? Did you make up the conduit on top of the steering column yourself or is that something to do with a stock column shifter? How is the bottom of that conduit connected to the steering column to dash bracket? Cant you run your horn wire down thru the middle of the steering wheel shaft like they came stock?

 

Yes, the stock turn signal wires run inside the tube and up into the dash (hidden behind the column drop). I made the tube from thin wall, flat stock, welded together and slid in from the steering wheel side down. I used a piece of old tire tube (Ax's idea) to wedge it into the drop and the machine screws up top hold it in place. I have they Toyota p/s set-up on mine and had a solid steering shaft made for it, I need to adapt a new ring and button setup for it.