My '62 wants a larger diameter steering wheel - I want one more. I like some of the aftermarket offerings, but they just cost too much. If I could find a decent wheel in a "auto recycler", what would fit my truck? I've seen wheels in some sorry shape, but I know there are restoration products out there - I'm no purist, but I do kinda like the original styles.

 

What size wheel is on your truck now? A 17' wheel came stock on them, which is pretty good size as far as most wheels go. If you have anything much smaller than that on your truck someone might have already pulled a swap on you - just look for a factory one. A lot of the ones you find in a wrecking yard are cracked, but they can be repaired fairly well with epoxy.

I admit I'm a pretty big guy, but I would have problems with anything bigger than stock clearing my lap when I sit. Neither of mine had the original seats still in them when I bought them... which may be a factor.

 

Sorry, I should've been more specific. The PO installed one of those black'n chrome racing style wheels with the holes in the posts. Size wise, I dunno, I guess about 13-14". I know the tires aren't helping any either - they're pretty good sized, and fill up the fender wells very sufficiently, thank you. My friend is pretty big too, and he had all kinds of problems finding a truck that would fit him - ended up with a 93 bow-tie standard cab. He couldn't get comfortable in extended cabs if you can believe that.

 

I believe Ford changed the turn signal switches in '64, so the wheel may have changed on that model too. - the 65/66's have a better steering arrangement and smaller wheels, so I doubt they will fit. If you stick to 61-63 factory wheels you should be OK.

Grant made most of those aftermarket wheels like you describe - I think 15" is as big as they go. They also make a wood and crome 16" wheel for mustangs that would look good in your truck, but you may need a different style hub adapter to use it - there are about 3 different styles. Momo makes some nice wheels, but I don't know if there are adapters for our year trucks.

BTW... I'm not that big - 6'2"@280lbs. I fit OK in new vehicles (except something like a Saturn - not fun to drive with your head against the roof and your knees on the dash...). The steering wheel angle and proximity of the seat made both my trucks a tight fit between the bottom of the wheel and the seat; not a whole lot of extra space was there! I'm using a 15" grant wheel on the 64 and it's a good compromise.

when I bought my 64 it had 275's all around - I went down to to a 235 tire in the front, it made a world of difference in steering effort! I also think the 275's were half the reason the king-pins were as shot as they were on my truck (along with the PO's attempt to fix them, but that is another story...)

 

I'd do a power steering conversion and as the budget allows add a tilt column. On your search for a wheel, carry along a steering wheel puller, that way when you find a wheel you can get it without damaging it.

 

Just out of curiosity (and also because my '64 needs something done about the wheel too):

This wheel looks awfully similar to a '64-1/2-'65 mustang wheel. Is it?

I'm assuming the 'stang might look similar, but be of smaller diameter...

 

William, from what I've been reading, a power steering swap is pretty difficult as well as a tilt wheels - or are you not referring to a '62? I'd be interested in those options down the road. Thanks for the inputs guys.

 

Here is a thought:

when it comes to finding out what wheels swap between models why not try and find a web site that sells aftermarket wheels, look up the hub adapter for any old wheel, then see what other applications it also fits - I'm betting if the adapter fits other vehicles the factory wheel from them will fit your truck too... sound reasonable?

 

You can get 18 and 19 inch dia Grant wheels at most mail order racing supply places.
Should run you ~ $25
44

 

Whoops! I have Twin I-Beam on the brain. Those with the straight axle have a whole other set of issues when it comes to PS and tilt. Sorry! I need to read these posts more carefully.

 

Yeah, the adaptor idea is worth a try. I'll look into that and see what I can get to match up. I wonder if nothing else, a guy could drill and tap new holes in an adaptor that won't fit the wheel arrangement, but would fit the steering shaft.

 

There is usually quite a bit of meat in them; it could probably be done if you wanted to use a certain aftermarket wheel and that company didn't offer an adapter. As far as factory wheels are concerned the hub is usually part of the wheel, so the drilling and tapping idea wouldn't work with one...

 

Yeah, I hadn't thought of the factory wheel being all one unit (no adaptor required). Seems pretty obvious when pointed out. I thought I heard or read somewhere at one time that wheels out of a similiar year Falcon might fit, but turn signal cam might need to be filed down a tad. Thanks for all the input again - it's great not to have to go around groping for loose answers and I dunno's.

 

Your stock wheel is 17", and I've yet to encounter those 18" and 19" wheels referred to above. The 17 in my 63 is a snug fit because our trucks still sit up 4"taller than the 65 and on, where they dropped the frame down-that's why you have that step inside the door. That limits wheel to seal clearance. Stock ones are easy to find-look on eBay-and I also believe a Falcon works. I kept looking at those Mustang wheels, but I don't know if the spline is the same size-I don't think it is. The big wheels are nice for Handover Steering so lacking on today's trucks.