Man, I've have had trouble with steering wheels! I had bad cracks in the original, so I searched and found it was much cheaper to get a steering wheel from a '78-'79 rather than '71-'77. I bought one on eBay and found that the bell on the bottom of the wheel rubs on the column (different size), they're not interchangable. I sold that wheel (much cheaper than I paid) and finally found the correct wheel without a horn pad. I have swapped the wheels out and now I discover that a wheel with cruise control is molded differently than one without! I thought I could switch the cruise control contact ring out of my old steering wheel into the new, but there's no ledge in this new wheel for it to set on. I'm fed up with dealing with steering wheels and I've wasted a LOT of cash, so I've decided to ditch cruise control. Mine doesn't work properly and I never use it anyway. I really dislike the idea of having the buttons there if they're not connected to anything, so now I'm looking for a non-cruise horn pad (black or woodgrain) and can't find any anywhere! I'm getting desperate! I would like to get one for cheaper than a hundred bucks (that's what it costs new from Dennis Carpenter), so I'm looking for new. I've searched all over online and I've asked around... I'm going to some salvage yards tomorrow. Can anyone help me out?

 

Keep your eye on ebay, they show up there fairly often. I converted mine over to a 78-79 tilt column with the smaller diameter foam wheel and am pleased with the change. Oh, my cruise works though.

 

I've been watching there for a week and seen several '78-'79s come and go, but can't find mine still... I'll keep watching though.

 

Should have asked us first, I'd tell you in an instant that they were not interchangeable.

Strangely enough, 73-77 wheels are much rarer than 78/79 due to demand.

Add up all the money you've spent getting the wrong wheels, plus shipping, and plus everything else...now which is cheaper, D.C.'s new wheel or a used one that may or may not work?

 

Haha... yeah, I would've asked here, but that was before I joined the forum. Also, I AM regretting not just buying from Dennis Carpenter... this has been a MESS.

 

D9TZ13A805A .. Horn Switch & Pad Assembly-Black / Use without Cruise Control / Obsolete

Fits: 1978/79 F100/350 / 1978/79 Bronco / 1978/86 Econoline.

How many would you like?

WESLEY OBSOLETE PARTS in Liberty KY has SIX = 606-787-5293

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has TWO = 800-543-4959

MILLER OBSOLETE PARTS in Binghamton NY has ONE = 800-546-7278

NOTE: The 1987/91 Econoline horn pads will fit a 1978/79 F100/350 or Bronco, as will the 1978/86 Econoline horn pads.

DENNIS CARPENTER HAS REPRODUCED THE 1971/77 BLACK STEERING WHEEL: D4TZ3600A (1975/77: USE WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL).

This same steering wheel also fits: 1974/77 Bronco & 1975/77 Econoline.

Peeps walk right past Econoline's in wrecking yards, not knowing that these parts are the same.

 

I am confused... the D9TZ13A805A will NOT fit my '77 truck, correct? Is that the part that the three companies you listed have? Thank you for the tip about the Econolines. Sorry, I am a little slow.

Thanks though.

 

You stated you bought a 1978/79 steering wheel, so I thought that was the horn pad you wanted.

So now you are ditching the Cruise and going with a 1971/77 non cruise steering wheel, correct?

1971/77: There are two different horn pads used w/o Cruise. One is black, one is woodgrained.

D3TZ13A805A .. Horn Pad & Switch Assy-Black / Obsolete

Fits: 1971/77 F100/350, 1974/77 Bronco, 1975/77 Econoline / Use w/o Cruise Control.

GREEN SALES has THREE = 800-543-4959.
----------------------------------------
D3TZ13A805B .. Horn Pad & Switch Assy-Wood Grained / Obsolete

Fits: 1971/77 F100/350, 1974/77 Bronco, 1975/77 Econoline / Use w/o Cruise Control.

GREEN SALES has FOUR.

Both of these horn pads may be Dennis Carpenter reproductions.

Dennis Carpenters phone number is: 704-786-8139.

NOTE 1978 and later: The parts are NOT the same for 1971/77 F100/350's, Bronco's or Econolines!

 

Thank you very much for that info Numberdummy!

 

Just to clarify:

1975/77 Econolines use the same steering wheel and horn pads as 1971/77 F100/350's, but NOT 1978 and later!

btw: 1975/77: With Cruise Control, the turn signal switch is for Cruise only!

Only ONE Ford dealer has this switch (D5TZ13341B) = Clevenger Ford in Porterville CA (NE of Bakersfield) has a limited supply.

No obsolete parts vendor has any. This switch has been almost impossible to find for over 20 years.

 

Well, I called Green Sales and they wanted a hundred for the black one, so I thought I'd hold off until coming back from the salvage yards. I am VERY thankful for your tip about Econolines having the same wheel! I looked through every truck and van in the yard and found nothing... on my way out, I glanced down a different isle and saw one more '77 Econoline motorhome and thought I'd try it. It had a black non-cruise horn pad in good shape! I got my pad for five bucks. Thank you!

 

Now my interior is done... it's the way I wanted it. I woulda prefered woodgrain, but to save ninety-five bucks, I won't complain.


Thanks again Numberdummy!