What would it take to install a 1970 and earlier style 3 spoke steering wheel in my dent, and keep the turn signal cancel working? The wheel I have is in pretty bad shape (tie-wire hold the the horn pad in place!) and the older one has more style, IMHO. The truck it would be going into is the 73', by the way.

Sam

 

I would like to know too. I want to do the same thing for the same reason. And yeah, mines also a '73.
Anybody out there tried this before?

 

At the junkyard the a few months ago I was looking at some bumps, and 1970-earlier might also use a rag joint in about the same place as the 73s, so the section from the rag joint up might just be a bolt on deal. I'm not 100% sure though, yesterday at the JY the 2wd bumps were gone, only 4x4s were left.

Any bumps in anyones local yard that they could get some measurement off of? Specifically from rag joint to end of the column in the cab, and then rag joint to the rim of the steering wheel. I'd appreciate it!

Sam

 

I've asked the same question before and I didn't really get a straight answer. I'd still like to know as well if it will fit.

 

I put my 73's wheel on my '67 column. Worked fine. I think you'd have to cut the "nub" off of the steering shaft where the nut installs to use the older wheel.

 

Going to revive this thread, because I'm going to do this swap sometime this week. O have been looking at pictures of 3 spoke wheel on ebay the back side with the cancel mechanism and all looks pretty much the same as the 73-77 style wheels.

I'll be going to the yards Tuesday or Thursday, I'll pick a good wheel off an older rig and report back shortly.

Sam

 

Great, I'd really like to know if it'll work. My opinion is the three spoke wheel is much nicer looking than the later two spoke.

 

A different year direction to try.....I got a leather wrapped one out of a 90 ish?? Bronco, the old style 79 horn pad went right in.

 

My thoughts exactly! They're a lot more durable too, they don't have the big floppy horn pad that's always breaking and coming out. Right now mine is held in with duct tape!

77&79F250, I'd like to see that if you have any pictures, sounds neat too.

Sam

 

I managed to snag a few hours and go out to the yards today, and I got myself a steering wheel! I pulled it off a 1968 F250.

The installation went smoothly untill I notice how far the steering shaft sticks out:


The way the stock 73 column is it won't allow the earlier wheel's horn button to sit where it's suppose to.

My solution was to cut off approximately 1/2 inch of the shaft, and it works great! Just make sure you use the thinner nut that comes off the older columns, or you could have clearance issues there. (sorry, I didn't take a picture of this step)

Here's here's what it looks like now:



The turn signal cancel works great, and the horn will too once I get some new parts (this wheel was missing the contact spring, but I'll just order that from MAC's)

Sam

 

Dig it! Nice work!

 

this is a realy cool idea but im thinking about useing a wheel from a 63 galixie instead i think its a beautiful wheel. how much would i expect to pay for a wheel in the shape of the one above

 

Great! Now I know which direction I'm going to go on my project. That really looks nice.
Thanks for the info. Reps to you.

 

That looks awesome! I think I made up my mind now, I want one of these so bad! How did you rig up that parking brake like that? I'm digging it!

 

I dunno about the galaxie's wheel, but the wheel I got was at the local pick a part for $20, dirt cheap if you ask me! Looks for 70 and older trucks with power steering, the wheel will be in better shape that way.

73FordF100: I know how you feel, I've wanted to do this for quite a while, (look at the start date on this thread!) and it feels so nice to finally have it done!

The parking brake was something I bought from 52 Merc (on this forum) and it's off a 1952 F-6, it's designed to bolt to the side of the transmission. I talked about it a little more here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...e-brake-2.html
and here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-to-np435.html

I'm glad you guys like it! Thanks for the reps!

Sam