I was thumbing through my new Mid-fifty catalog and saw this new steering column from Flaming river. It says it works with the stock wheel which is great being that I just restored my whee\ and have been trying to talk myself into using my stock column. Anybody tried this yet, seems too good to be true other than price. Mid-fifties price is quite a bit higher.

 

im pretty shocked there isn't anyone out there that has interest to use the stock wheel and an aftermarket column.I know it has been talked about on this forum quite a bit.

 

I would also like to see a stock looking 15" wheel for a 55 f-100

 

If I were keeping the stock wheel I would want a stock column as well. It's nice to have a column that will accept the stock steering wheel but what are you going to do with the other end of the column? This column has a DD output shaft. The OEM wheel is rather large in diameter to compensate for the manual steering box, most folks that I know who are building trucks and considering an aftermarket column have already replaced the OEM steering/suspension and do not need the mechanical advantage afforded by the stock wheel. An aftermarket 15 inch OEM-looking wheel would be great in this circumstance.

 

I did convert to power rack and pinion and while a smaller diameter wheel would be nice, I go to all these car shows and see aftermarket steering wheels that i just don't love the look of. Most look outdated where the stock will always look like it belongs. I was going to switch out the valve in my pump to help offset the added leverage of the larger wheel if I go this route.

 

I am building a 40 Ford coupe and I am using an aftermarket steering wheel that looks just like the OEM wheel except it is 15 inches in diameter. I haven't researched an F100 aftermarket wheel but if one was available then that would solve the problem...and it would broaden your selection of steering columns since the aftermarket wheel should fit other columns.

 

Southern Rods & Parts has a nice selection of steering columns and related parts, I found them to be less expensive than Ididit and Flaming River. I bought their 32" for my 53 f100 it worked out great.

 

Hi Highdesert
We went with the exact wheel that Charlie shows above. We also got a
30 inch Ididit column to match up to it... Steering wheel/column solution
is expensive but I just couldn't get comfortable with the worn out columns I was seeing
at salvage yards. You can save a lot of money by going with a paintable column vs. stainless.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1