Steering wheel options? Retro look?

[Atomsplitter]

I picked up a nice steering wheel from a 50 Chevy Deluxe car and I was wondering if anyone else has swapped out the the OEM wheel for something old but interesting (not looking at going aftermarket or new).
I have a mid '80's streeing column and I'm not sure if the spline is the same throughout all those years, would I need to get a small stub from a 50 Chevy to weld onto the newer column?

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'm no expert but I DON'T think you ever want to splice a steering column. And not a "stub" either. Not unless you're a certified welder and have the weld tested. At least I wouldn't want to.

[NEWFISHER]

I just picked up a decent 57 Belair wheel with a new chrome horn ring at the swap meet last weekend. Plans are to repair a couple cracks, paint it and dress up the cab a little. I have a restored 3100 wheel and new horn button now, but they are just to plain to look at everyday.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Fish, I think our wheels can look great. Admittedly not as fancy as a Belair wheel but still quite nice:

[meter swinger]

I have a 62 impala wheel on mine. I picked it up from a friend who switched to a billet wheel. bolted right on.

[NEWFISHER]

Dan, that's the later fancier wheel ( I call it the finned batwing) and they look awsome when two toned. I was also looking for one of those, but couldn't pass up the deal on the Belair.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

My truck is a 55.2 and has that wheel. Isn't mine and your '54 the same? I always thought they were.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I'm no expert but I DON'T think you ever want to splice a steering column. And not a "stub" either. Not unless you're a certified welder and have the weld tested. At least I wouldn't want to.

Comon man you just bought a MIG, don't be scared!!!!

You could weld a sleeve around the OD of the two shafts then plug weld the sleeve to the two shaft parts. I have made a couple of these to extend the risers, never had a problem. Granted I had two risers attaching the handle bars to the bike but I didn't have a seat belt either!

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

My truck is a 55.2 and has that wheel. Isn't mine and your '54 the same? I always thought they were.

Mines a 1950
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[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I'm no expert but I DON'T think you ever want to splice a steering column. And not a "stub" either. Not unless you're a certified welder and have the weld tested. At least I wouldn't want to.

I did the tie rod and the draglink on my jeep. does that count?

[mr48chev]

The wheel should go on the spline no problem but the column it's self may be too fat to look right with the early wheel.

[skymangs]

I used a 65 Chevy pickup column and an 83 Ford pickup wheel (15") I grafted my original 48 chevy center and spokes into it. Came out pretty trick, stock look only 3.5" smaller diameter.

[rollinrooster]

Originally Posted by skymangs

I used a 65 Chevy pickup column and an 83 Ford pickup wheel (15") I grafted my original 48 chevy center and spokes into it. Came out pretty trick, stock look only 3.5" smaller diameter.

Man.. that looks great!!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

What did you use to replace the hard plastic/Bakelite? JB Weld? Or something else?
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[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by skymangs

I used a 65 Chevy pickup column and an 83 Ford pickup wheel (15") I grafted my original 48 chevy center and spokes into it. Came out pretty trick, stock look only 3.5" smaller diameter.

Man that looks perfect! How long did it take to do this work? Any links to the project? Thanks.

[OrrieG]

Here is a mock up photo of my 48 wheel on the 82 eldo column and the refurbished wheel. Not shown in the mockup is the eldo shelve that covers the part between the wheel and column. The metallic black does not photograph well, looks dusty! Do not have a final assembly pic yet. I used JB weld for the repairs, look at my build thread posts around 3/12 for details.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The wheel should go on the spline no problem but the column it's self may be too fat to look right with the early wheel.

That is what I was thinking!

[OrrieG]

Hey, don't we all want a fatter column???

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by sqrlnts

Man that looks perfect! How long did it take to do this work? Any links to the project? Thanks.

page 5 of of skymangs build thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=541904&page=5

[skymangs]

Originally Posted by sqrlnts

Man that looks perfect! How long did it take to do this work? Any links to the project? Thanks.

Thanks, Link is in my sig... Kinda runs throughout the build. I used POR-15 2 part epoxy (which is what steering wheel repair cats use). The steel core is of course welded to the new rim beneith the epoxy. If I had worked on it continuously, probably would have only taken a couple days. I waited 24 hrs. before sanding the epoxy each application of the epoxy.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Hey, don't we all want a fatter column???

T.M.I. Orrie, T.M.I...
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[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Hey, don't we all want a fatter column???

Not I said the old hot rodder. I've been there and done that and when one stands back and looks at his truck like I have he starts looking at things to see if they look like they appear as if they were designed for the truck or if they were stuck in the truck as an afterthought and don't really fit the theme of the truck.
I had a 74 Olds Cutlass tilt in my 48 for a number of years and while it worked great and was nice to be able to move the wheel up and down on road trips it just never looked right in the truck and always looked to fat and out of place. I'm going to run a 70 Chev truck column out of a four speed truck that my son had when it goes back together but haven't decided on the wheel yet. I love the Nardi wood wheel that is in my 71 but it won't look right in the 48 and the older larger diameter thin rimmed Nardi wheels are seriously expensive. I like the idea of putting a smaller but not too small rim on the old hub though and i have plenty of old wheels in so so shape to play with.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Not I said the old hot rodder. I've been there and done that and when one stands back and looks at his truck like I have he starts looking at things to see if they look like they appear as if they were designed for the truck or if they were stuck in the truck as an afterthought and don't really fit the theme of the truck.
I had a 74 Olds Cutlass tilt in my 48 for a number of years and while it worked great and was nice to be able to move the wheel up and down on road trips it just never looked right in the truck and always looked to fat and out of place. I'm going to run a 70 Chev truck column out of a four speed truck that my son had when it goes back together but haven't decided on the wheel yet. I love the Nardi wood wheel that is in my 71 but it won't look right in the 48 and the older larger diameter thin rimmed Nardi wheels are seriously expensive. I like the idea of putting a smaller but not too small rim on the old hub though and i have plenty of old wheels in so so shape to play with.

Uh....maybe I just have a dirty mind, but I THINK Orrie was referring to another kind of "column"

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Uh....maybe I just have a dirty mind, but I THINK Orrie was referring to another kind of "column"

That's what I thought too.

[_Ogre]

nice steering wheel mod skymangs
dang... now i have to mod mine