Anyone have any advice or procedures for the removal of the steering column and steering wheel on a 41 Ford truck? I'm wanting to remove the cab and all that prevents that is the steering column.

Any advice or recommendations will be appreciated.

 

Hi, Here's the lowdown on the steering column on your '41. I have a '40 and they are virtually the same. Remove the steering wheel / remove the 5/16 bolts that hold the column mount to the dash / loosen the column tube from the steering gear box. The mount and the tube will slide up and over the steering column shaft ( it there is not enough clearance , you will have to suspend the column mount/tube assy. until you are finished with the next step) / remove pitman arm from the steering gear box / remove the bolts that hold the steering gear box to the frame and gently remove the gear box and the shaft assy from beneath the truck. Remember to disconnect the horn wire where it snaps into the wiring harness below the steering gear box. That's all there is to it. If you have help, you can do it in an hour. Steve

 

Take a Sawzall and cut off the column just inside the floorboard. It at that point it don't fall out the bottom make another cut just above the steering box. At that point it should fall right out, it's always worked for me. Toyota 4X4 boxs on trucks between 83 and 87 are your best bet for replacment.

 

Don't just cut your steering column, they are worth money to people. Those column are popular for nostaligia builders. 59IN40's way of doing is going to be your easiest way to do, and you won't destroy the parts incase you are restoring to stock. If you aren't, then the parts can be turned a resold to somebody else, get a few bucks back.

 

"take a sawzall" - you gotta love it. This is what make parts rare and hard to find. It reminds me of a stash of Harley motors that we came across a few years ago. The frames had been cut away to get to the motors and to use as storage stands. The frames were from the thirties and forties and are now worth over 1K uncut and yes they are hard to find now. Just my 2 cents. Steve

 

59INA40, thanks for the information on the removal, After looking at the truck that's what I needed.

Also, no fear of cutting the parts up, I'm not looking to cut the truck up and replace it with modern parts. I'm look to perform an orignal restoration.

 

There has been a couple guys on the FTE who for one reason or another just couldn't get the steering box out because of problems with the column. They used a sawzall to cut the column and slide it off the shaft. Then it can be welded back together at a later date. I only added the comment about the Toy Box because SOME people do actually like to improve the handling of there trucks.

 

I have hit a snag removing the steering column from my '41 Ford pickup. One side of the bracket attaching the column to the dash is attached with an accessible 5/8 bolt. The other side of the bracket has a safety washer of some sort capping the bolt. Has anyone seen this and how did you remove the cap? So far I've been unable to pry the cap off the bolt or knock it loose to expose the bolt head. I'd be glad for any advice.