15" or 17" steering wheel?
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15" or 17" steering wheel?
I am converting my 68 F-100 2wd from manuel to power steering. I will be changing the pump/gear.
I would like to get rid of the old 17". If I put in a P/S unit from a mid-70's F-100, will I have to stick with a 17" or can I downsize to a 16" or maybe even a 15" and not have any problems?
Love to hear your thoughts!
I would like to get rid of the old 17". If I put in a P/S unit from a mid-70's F-100, will I have to stick with a 17" or can I downsize to a 16" or maybe even a 15" and not have any problems?
Love to hear your thoughts!
Junior User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
15" or 17" steering wheel?
The steering wheel from a '70-77 Ford truck should fit, although I think it is almost as large in diameter (maybe 16"?) as the '61-'69 3-spoke. The '78 and later wheel (with sharper angles in horn pad area) is smaller, but has a different size steering column diameter, so the wheel and column don't line up correctly.
Perhaps one of the passenger car wheels would work better. Good luck!
Perhaps one of the passenger car wheels would work better. Good luck!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
15" or 17" steering wheel?
Mark, I don't know what your plan is for the conversion, but you will need to change the column as well. The gear is a couple of inches longer where the hoses connect, so the shaft length will have to be compensated. I have made a conversion for a 66 F100 from a 76 F100.
Is your truck auto or straight drive, what size is the engine. If you will email me at jowilker with your responses I'll try to help you with your conversion, and what you will need.
John
Is your truck auto or straight drive, what size is the engine. If you will email me at jowilker with your responses I'll try to help you with your conversion, and what you will need.
John
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
15" or 17" steering wheel?
Mark,
a larger diameter steering wheel has more "leverage" and is easier to turn than a smaller one, thus the 17 incher on your manual steering.
With power steering, a 15 would be fine, except if your power steering goes out! Then it would take a herd of elephants to steer that mother around anything under 30mph (believe me, I know!)
CW<<getting more muscular arms everyday!--(arg)
a larger diameter steering wheel has more "leverage" and is easier to turn than a smaller one, thus the 17 incher on your manual steering.
With power steering, a 15 would be fine, except if your power steering goes out! Then it would take a herd of elephants to steer that mother around anything under 30mph (believe me, I know!)
CW<<getting more muscular arms everyday!--(arg)
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
15" or 17" steering wheel?
I have a smaller after-market wheel on my 73, it's 12-13 inches. I have had manual steering until yesterday (just did the conversion). It was tougher at lower speeds, but bearable. I love the smaller wheel (especially with power steering) and would never go back to one of those big monster wheels like it originally had.
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