What adapter do I need to put after market steering wheel on my 52 F1?

 

Grant Products 4257 - Grant Steering Wheel Installation Kits Fits 49-57 F series trucks

Its going to fit like crap though. I just installed this and my stock steering column is like 1.5" diameter tube and this is made for about a 4" diameter tube. Looks kind of dumb, I may take the black trim rin g back off and just leave the aluminum adapter exposed and paint it black. Good luck!

 

I saw a thread awhile back where somebody installed a newer center piece in an original wheel, I wonder if you could reverse that. Put an original wheel hub on a newer hub? I would like to use my original wheel on my Bronco II steering column. It's not time for me to mess with it now, but thats my thoughts.

 

I think I read that Speedway has steering wheel adapter for Ford splined column.
Flatheaddave, did you leave the top bell on your column?

 

I left my column original except just disconnected the column shift linkage. I'm not sure what you mean by bell, maybe it was missing when I bought the truck.

 

i cut my old nasty steering wheel apart then welded the center to the inside of my grant wheel

 

On my column there was a bell or bowl like piece on the top of the column behind the steering wheel ~ 3.5-4" in diameter. If yours doesn't have it, you could always make one from the right size bowl or pot. See my "MDD" gallery for a cover I made for my AC/heater firewall connections out of a pet dish.

 

The bonus builts don't have the bell you're talking about that the mid-fifties have. The column tube is straight and the steering wheel has a flare on the underside that covers the end.

 

Hey Jon,
Our original wheel was more duct tape than anything else but we wanted the "1950" look. We found this after market wheel on line - It's patterned after a late 40's Ford. (Kind of pricey but nice).

Ben in Austin

 

Ok, that answers the difference. I think all the adapters are for columns with a bell. You may be able to find someone with a spare mid fifties column housing with the bell that you might be able to adapt to your column or I'd take the measurements of your column diameter and the adapter diameter to the DIY store, housewares store, dollar store, thrift store, etc. and look at bowl and/or cup shaped objects that might be modified to make a transition from the column to the adapter. In the DIY store I might look in the plumbing dept for a PVC pipe cap, pipe size adapter, other plumbing pieces the right size and shape, In the tool dept I might look at shop vac hose adapters. In the housewares store look at bowls in metal and plastic, plastic flower vases that might be cut down, etc etc. Don't discount the idea of putting multiple pieces together. You can paint it to match your column or semigloss black, hammertone, or ???

 

Ben, is that the stock steering column? If so what type of adaptor is that and wheel? Like the look, but dont want to replace my stock column, where did you get it?

 

Hey Bryan,
My column was shot - just duct taped together. That is a new
30 inch Ididit knockoff column - Off Ebay for around $225 or so.
It has tilt, turn signals, flashers, & column PRNDL. It comes with a GM
style adapter as does the 40's Ford style steering wheel.

My experience is that steering is one area that just seems to be pricey.
Good luck over there.

Ben in Austin

 

Speedway's adaper is for '28-'48 Fords. Part # 916-32765. In the catalog it says Fits a steering wheel with modern three hole pattern to '28-'48 Ford steering column...works with all Grant wheels. Check it out on his web site, it's only $19.99. Don't know how well it works.

 

I was reading my post here and it may have been misunderstood.
Someone here took an old steering wheel and machined the center to make room for a new center to be welded into the old wheel so it would fit a newer column.
That's what I was talking about..Sorry..not an adapter.

 

If I was going to do that much machining, I'd make it so the two pieces could be bolted together rather than needing welding, heat and plastic doesn't coexist very well.