Steering Wheel
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New User
Joined: Jul 2002
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Steering Wheel
Hi to all,
I'm a pretty young truck enthusiast and I have a 1955 f-100. I was wondering what it takes to put a different steering wheel on the original column. I would appreciate any help, I would like to put on a smaller steering wheel and bucket seats.
I'm a pretty young truck enthusiast and I have a 1955 f-100. I was wondering what it takes to put a different steering wheel on the original column. I would appreciate any help, I would like to put on a smaller steering wheel and bucket seats.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 955
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From: St. Louis USA
Steering Wheel
If you're going for an aftermarket wheel, I would imagine that the manufacturer would sell a kit to install it. Keep in mind that a smaller diameter wheel will make steering harder, maybe some pple here can provide more specifics... 
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 948
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From: McAlester, OK
Steering Wheel
Are you going to put in power steering? If you're sticking with manual steering I'd be careful about how small you get that wheel compared to how big your front tires are gonna be. The smaller the diameter and tread width of the front tires the easier it will be to turn. So if you want some large, normal looking wheels under the front fenders go with a larger steering wheel but if your gonna put on some tiny little 15's then a smaller wheel won't matter that much. Of course this is just my 2 cents, you probribly have larger arms then me and can handle the extra strain, and if not you can get some pretty good upper stregnth by driving something like that around for a while.
Clayton
Clayton
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 932
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From: DFW, TX
Steering Wheel
fordtrk55,
jeffh brings up a good point. When I was very young I had a '53 that I put a 12" diameter, 4" dish steering wheel on and it made it very hard to turn. The dish also made the wheel sit too high. I shortened the column 4" to compensate, but the smaller wheel was still hard to turn, especially when parking.
Being a "young truck enthusiast" may allow you to overcome the "strong arm power steering" problem,
but consider a relatively flat wheel so you don't catch it with your teeth on every little bump.
Just my 2 cents-good luck and welcome!
jeffh brings up a good point. When I was very young I had a '53 that I put a 12" diameter, 4" dish steering wheel on and it made it very hard to turn. The dish also made the wheel sit too high. I shortened the column 4" to compensate, but the smaller wheel was still hard to turn, especially when parking.
Being a "young truck enthusiast" may allow you to overcome the "strong arm power steering" problem,
but consider a relatively flat wheel so you don't catch it with your teeth on every little bump.Just my 2 cents-good luck and welcome!
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Steering Wheel
Thanks to all of you for your help. I will have to look into the adapter kits and find a good size wheel. I eventaully want to put power steering and a tilt column, but for now I was just going to change the steering wheel. Thanks Again,
Fordtrk55
Fordtrk55
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From: Ventura County, CA
Steering Wheel
Fordtrk55,
Welcome! I have a '59 that now has a '78 GM tilt steering column married to a Toyota power steering box. I have a Billet steering wheel also. With the PS, steering is a breeze. But like the others said, a smaller diameter steering wheel will make manual steering more of a workout, especially depending on the size and widith of tires on the front you're running or intend to run. I have 255/70X15's on all four corners. Rides smoother with the higher profile (70 series) tires vs. 50's, 45's or 40-series, and I feel that the "look" of the tire is more in line with the era of my year truck.
But, the choice is yours, and I fully encourage you to do your ride up like YOU want it! Meantime, enjoy and please feel free to fire any/all questions our way...
Daryl
Welcome! I have a '59 that now has a '78 GM tilt steering column married to a Toyota power steering box. I have a Billet steering wheel also. With the PS, steering is a breeze. But like the others said, a smaller diameter steering wheel will make manual steering more of a workout, especially depending on the size and widith of tires on the front you're running or intend to run. I have 255/70X15's on all four corners. Rides smoother with the higher profile (70 series) tires vs. 50's, 45's or 40-series, and I feel that the "look" of the tire is more in line with the era of my year truck.
But, the choice is yours, and I fully encourage you to do your ride up like YOU want it! Meantime, enjoy and please feel free to fire any/all questions our way...
Daryl
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