Original Steering Wheel will fit ________________?

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » December 12, 2007, 8:20 pm

Can anyone tell me for certain (No WAG's please) which year Ford steering columns will accept my original "Armstrong" steering wheel (17" I believe). i.e. will it fit up to a 78-79? or does it have to be an earlier model.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » December 12, 2007, 9:37 pm

If you are wanting to know fit of the column to the body: 61-64 Will be a direct bolt in. Anything else will require modification, and with modifications, anything can fit.

As for the wheel: The wheel will fit 57-60, 61-64, 65-67 Trucks. Early Falcons, but I don't know the years. You can do modifications to the wheel, and get it to fit anything. Without changing the structure you can get it to fit 69-79 columns, but you would have to do a lot.

Check out www.Fordification.com for info on 67-79 columns. Your wheel is the same the 67.

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » December 13, 2007, 12:25 am

Wheel won't fit 78 or 79 columns as they went to a two contact horn and changes sizes (it will fit the splines though). It will also not work with 73-77 if you have a cruise control turn signal switch. Put a regular switch in and it will work. It will also fit most 69 and older columns even if they have two contact horn switches, just cut the extra one off. Hawkrod

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » December 13, 2007, 12:48 am

You can get it to fit on a 70-72, but you would need to cut a piece of the top end of the stearing shaft off.

Up to 69, the wheels are the same. 70-72 they were different, but the column is the same and the steering shaft is the same, except for the very top end, where there is an extra extension.

What exactly are you trying to do? I assume it has to do with a steering column swap and you are wondering what years would allow you to retain the orginal style steering wheel?

That is certainly a valid consideration -- affected me as well. 73 and up are different in the shifter area, such that the original wheel will not fit. If you want original wheel, must go with 72 or earlier.

BTW, www.fordification.com is the source of much of the information I am quoteing, along with some recent junk yarding.....

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » December 13, 2007, 12:56 am

Also -- I see that you are putting a new IFS under the 64. That would mean that you are probably modifying things quite a lot.

I have a 65-66 manual column that I have removed the dash bracket from (to transplant onto a 69 column). This might be of interest to you if you intend to put the shifter on the floor. PM me if it would interest you....

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » December 13, 2007, 9:43 am

I guess I didn't fully explain. The reason for the proposed column change is to get a tilt wheel and retain my original steering wheel. (The wheel as it sits now almost hits my stomach (I'm not fat, just big boned LOL).

I will be adding either a rack and pinion setup or a Power Steering modified steering box to my 64 F100 (Floor Shift), so I can probably cut the end of most any column in order to attach the column to the sector with the pivots and shaft.
(Sorry I probably have the terminology all wrong, I'm not awake yet).

All the aftermarket columns I've seen (Ididit and Flaming River) use the GM shaft which precludes the use of the orig Ford wheel)

I did find a couple of links from the Fordification site which (Hotrod Superstore and Bronco Graveyard) which may allow me to use my original wheel (haven't check with them yet, will do so today).

I was hoping to keep the cost down a little by using a column off a Ford truck, but it appears that an aftermarket column may be my best shot (if I can find one which will allow me to retain my orig wheel)

Maybe I can just change the angle of the column via the column drop and gain the room I need. Shouldn't make a difference if the angle is changed as it will not be a direct bolt to the steering box as it is now.

Sorry this has gotten so long. Thanks to all for the info.

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » December 14, 2007, 12:22 am

I think you have a pretty good grip on the situation based on your last post. There is no easy solution for a tilt column and a 61-66 style steering wheel. In fact, I was not aware of ANY such solution, but perhaps the inventive bronco boys have one. Please do post up a report of that when you know more......

Casey · Post by **Casey** » December 14, 2007, 4:01 am

I did not like my proximity to the steering wheel in my '64 either so I pulled the bench and removed the slides from the bottom. I then bolted the seat frame directly back to the floor. Got me down about 2" and back about the same. Much better but when I get around to moving the gas tank the seat will be moved back more.

Hoofbeat Racer · Post by **Hoofbeat Racer** » December 14, 2007, 7:57 am

Grits, I had the exact scenario. I installed a 79 column and wanted the 66 wheel to fit and of course wanted the turn signals to cancel and the horn to work. The solution was to machine down the 66 wheel hub and destroy a 73-79 wheel. Cut the 73-79 wheel up until you had a hub about the size of a hockey puck., bolt the 2 pieces together through the wheel removal holes. It DOES work....however, machine shop cost me 80 bucks, when it was all said and done, the column sat too close to me I needed a smaller wheel anyway.

Just remember, after seeing the Norwegian bodyman's special, anything is possible

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » December 14, 2007, 7:59 am

Casey: Good idea..I'll take a look at that. The top of the seat back is right up to the window, but I guess if you drop it down2" it will go back farther. I think my upholstery lady added a little padding when she installed my seatcovers, so that may have added to the problem.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » December 14, 2007, 12:19 pm

any reason you could not use a late 60s ford car tilt column? i am thinking lincoln or tbird. i remember my 69 tbird had a tilt/swing away column that moved to the side to allow easier entry besides the normal up/down tilt. also it was a cruise control and had a 3 spoke wheel that would look ok in a slick if the stock truck wheel did not fit on the column.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » December 14, 2007, 1:36 pm

Hmmmmmmmmm!

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » December 14, 2007, 5:48 pm

I just looked at the Flaming River site and they have a tilt column for 55-57 T-birds and 65-66 and 67-70 Mustangs keeping the Ford original steering wheel. I have sent an e-mail, but they're probably already closed for the weekend.

http://www.flamingriver.com/index.cfm/p ... prd103.htm

http://www.flamingriver.com/index.cfm/p ... cat215.htm

Does anyone happen to know how close the T-Bird and Mustang shafts are to the 61-64 truck shafts?

I'm thinking the wheels look very similar. Maybe I could go that route and use either a Mustang or T-Bird wheel??? to keep the look.