60-66 Steering wheel on a later column? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

samdjr74 · 10-24-2009, 08:26 AM

Hi All,

Someoe told me I should try posting this question in this section. I'm building up a 56 chevy 3100 and I'm using a column out of a 70 chevy truck. My question is, does anyone know if a steering wheel from a 60-66 Chevy truck will work? Right now I have a mach up 3 spoke 70's wheel on it but I prefer the look of the older wheels.

Thanks,
Sam

62 short step · 10-24-2009, 09:21 AM

I have a 72 auto column in my truck with the 60-66 wheel. Fit good. Here is a pic.

samdjr74 · 10-24-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62 short step

I have a 72 auto column in my truck with the 60-66 wheel. Fit good. Here is a pic.

Great, thanks, I found a 60's whel with a horn ring,looks really nice and should go well with my 56 but needed to confirm.

Thanks,
Sam

markeb01 · 10-24-2009, 12:19 PM

The splines on the steering column post and most of the GM brands remained the same for decades - at least from the 40's to the 80's, and probably before and after this. So regarding the splines, "almost" any GM wheel will fit on almost any other GM column.

The issues that usually come up pertain to the turn signal cancelling mechanism. Up until 1952 turn signals were an accessory and clamped to the column externally. 1953-54 had a factory turn signal cup under the steering wheel and by 1955 it was part of the column. Many of the internal turn signal parts remained similar until the mid 60's, but there were a variety of turn signal cancelling cams attached to the back of the steering wheel. Some had one probe, some two, they could be located at different clock positions, and could be long or short. Many times this part can be swapped or modified to work on an earlier or later column. I used to run a 1950 Olds wheel in my 54 Chevy, and I've seen 59 Olds wheels in 57 Chevys, etc. The combinations didn't always look good but they did bolt up and could be made to function correctly. In the late 60's the steering columns got bigger in diameter, which is one reason why you don't see many early wheels in later cars. A 59 Impala wheel for example will fit on a 69 column, but the wheel hub is smaller than the diameter of the column and doesn't look right without some type of adapter ring.

10-24-2009, 08:26 AM	#1
samdjr74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 160	60-66 Steering wheel on a later column? Hi All, Someoe told me I should try posting this question in this section. I'm building up a 56 chevy 3100 and I'm using a column out of a 70 chevy truck. My question is, does anyone know if a steering wheel from a 60-66 Chevy truck will work? Right now I have a mach up 3 spoke 70's wheel on it but I prefer the look of the older wheels. Thanks, Sam

10-24-2009, 09:21 AM	#2
62 short step Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana Posts: 2,882	Re: 60-66 Steering wheel on a later column? I have a 72 auto column in my truck with the 60-66 wheel. Fit good. Here is a pic. Attached Images __________________ www.louisianaclassictruckclub.com 1965 c-10 86 chevy c/k 20

10-24-2009, 12:19 PM	#4
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: 60-66 Steering wheel on a later column? The splines on the steering column post and most of the GM brands remained the same for decades - at least from the 40's to the 80's, and probably before and after this. So regarding the splines, "almost" any GM wheel will fit on almost any other GM column. The issues that usually come up pertain to the turn signal cancelling mechanism. Up until 1952 turn signals were an accessory and clamped to the column externally. 1953-54 had a factory turn signal cup under the steering wheel and by 1955 it was part of the column. Many of the internal turn signal parts remained similar until the mid 60's, but there were a variety of turn signal cancelling cams attached to the back of the steering wheel. Some had one probe, some two, they could be located at different clock positions, and could be long or short. Many times this part can be swapped or modified to work on an earlier or later column. I used to run a 1950 Olds wheel in my 54 Chevy, and I've seen 59 Olds wheels in 57 Chevys, etc. The combinations didn't always look good but they did bolt up and could be made to function correctly. In the late 60's the steering columns got bigger in diameter, which is one reason why you don't see many early wheels in later cars. A 59 Impala wheel for example will fit on a 69 column, but the wheel hub is smaller than the diameter of the column and doesn't look right without some type of adapter ring.



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