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Help trying to fit a 78+ steering wheel on a 74 Dentside
Ok, I hope the title got some attention. I've got a 74 dentside and the factory steering wheel was a little big for my 6'4" body. I swapped in a nice factory wheel from an 80 something van. Looks stock except it's a about 1" or more smaller and has a good padded grip. Everything works, I grounded out one of horn wires on the pad to the hub and the horn is good, but the turn signals don't cancel. The hub around the spline is a little bigger and the cam ring for the turn signals wont fit on it properly. My idea is turn down the outer diamter of that hub to fit the ring, or use a drill press and drill a hole in the hub to fit a dowel (spring pin) in to duplicate what the cam ring does.
like a huge dummy, the original steering wheel that I took off is lost or disgarded, I just can't find it. Can someone with a stock wheel from a 73-77 f100 take a pic of the back of the steering wheel and measure the diameter of the hub? Or, is someone has one, let me know how much you want for it, It doesn't matter what shape its in, I just need it for measurements. Heck, If someone will just let me borrow one, Ill pay shipping.
I've seen several people on her wishing their turn signals would cancel on the older dents with the newer wheels. Once I get the solution either turned down hub or hopefully, just the right location to drill a dowel pin hole. I'll post and give a diagram. The forum has helped me and I'd like to help it.
You have found the difference in the steering wheels, 73-77 interchange with each other, and 78-79&into80s interchange with each other, why FORD changed it is probably because of the neutral safety switch and turn signal switch redesign, and they knew they were changing to a new wiring harness in 1980. I hope you figure out a conversion method as it would help a lot of users on here, I don't have any measurements but a few users have parts and pics and can measure, may have to wait til after christmas for them to have time to get to this though...
It will fit, but as is the turn signals will not cancel.
Update, I found a core from a guy so I'm working on it. I'll keep you guys posted. Maybe some pics with the dimensions in case anyone here has some ideas. As soon as I get a chance.
Ok, so I drilled a 1/8" hole for a spring pin on the outer edge. Per the dimensions its not in the same position but I'm going to try this first. I'll keep everyone posted.
Update, it works with a small adjustment, I had to add a small piece from a vacuum cap that fits the spring pin. It made the diameter of the pin .300" or about 5/16" I cut it to fit the length of the pin and added a drop of superglue to make sure it doesn't come off. That probably wasn't needed but better safe than sorry. Works perfect now, cancels, just like stock, I've got a standard wheel I'll do this to next week but it will apply to any 78 or newer wheel with a hub this diameter, which is most if not all of them. Hope this helps somebody, heres a couple of more pics.
Merry Christmas guys.
Should the hole be drilled in the same point, of the 360 degree hub circle, as shown in your photo? That is for even blinker cancelling, on left and right turns?
Yes, just like the photos. The hole has to be drilled in the same side as the stock cam so it will be as close to center of the turn signal switch. I'll take some more pics of the other wheel I'm going to do next week after Christmas.
Yes, just like the photos. The hole has to be drilled in the same side as the stock cam so it will be as close to center of the turn signal switch. I'll take some more pics of the other wheel I'm going to do next week after Christmas.
SO..................I finally got a "Round Tu-it" and removed the PO's Grant steering wheel. I HATE 90% OF ALL AFTERMARKET accessories, including said wheel. Talk about cheesy !
I installed my Ebay 78 steering wheel. I followed Mdc996's instructions. THANKS!
Works great! Cancel cam is broken on one direction, so I may order one and install later.
I spent A LOT of time diagnosing the inop horn. Of course it was just the missing "special" ground wire, from 1 terminal on the OE horn switch, to a hole in the steering wheel hub.
Update, it works with a small adjustment, I had to add a small piece from a vacuum cap that fits the spring pin. It made the diameter of the pin .300" or about 5/16" I cut it to fit the length of the pin and added a drop of superglue to make sure it doesn't come off. That probably wasn't needed but better safe than sorry. Works perfect now, cancels, just like stock, I've got a standard wheel I'll do this to next week but it will apply to any 78 or newer wheel with a hub this diameter, which is most if not all of them. Hope this helps somebody, heres a couple of more pics.
Merry Christmas guys.
Dang I missed this.
Bookmarked for inclusion in the Tech Info Compilation!
12-20-2016, 10:41 AM
