55-56 Chevy PU Steering Wheel

[thebebop]

Hey all

I've been trying to find an original wheel in decent shape with no luck so thought maybe I should expand my search for one from a different year or model. I know they went to a deeper dish in 57 which would cause clearance issues. I'd really like to stick with the same diameter or maybe an inch smaller.

What other years and models would be a decent fit for my 55/56?

[OrrieG]

Splines are all the same including cars. AD trucks have flat wheels, I used a 48 one on my 82 Eldo column. some 40-50's autos have relatively shallow dishes too. Moving into the late 50's and 60's they got deeper.

[capnduane]

I think there were 3 on ebay this morning. Type in "55 Chevy truck steering wheel". I got two off ebay when I was redoing my truck. I fixed the cracks with epoxy and repainted them, and they came out good. Good luck!

[roger55]

'54, '55, '56 truck wheels are all the same.

You can buy a new repro or a find a good used on ebay like mentioned.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by capnduane

?....I fixed the cracks with epoxy and repainted them, and they came out good. Good luck!

Save your money....you'll need it for plenty of other stuff on the truck.

See my thread via my link below, pages 3 & 4. I think spread over posts #61 through about #89 for photos of how I did the epoxy repairs on mine. Came out great for relative pennies compared to buying one.

[mechanixman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...0C04D9AEA66CE4

That's another great source of info for repairing your own.

[G&R's57GMC]

The stock steering column on the 55-56 is longer then the 57-59.

So if you were to use a 57-9 deep dish wheel in a 55-6 it would be in your face.

On the other hand if you had a 57-9 and put a 55-6 steering wheel on it it would give you more room.

1st pic 56 Chevy

2nd pic 57 GMC

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

The stock steering column on the 55-56 is longer then the 57-59.

So if you were to use a 57-9 deep dish wheel in a 55-6 it would be in your face.

On the other hand if you had a 57-9 and put a 55-6 steering wheel on it it would give you more room.

1st pic 56 Chevy

2nd pic 57 GMC

I have tried a 56 wheel that i have on the shorter 57-9 mast and it puts the steering wheel to close to the seat and makes it hard to get in the seat!
it really does not work that well.
not trying to steal anyone's Thunder here, Just FWIW
Allen

[thebebop]

Thanks for all the input guys

[dubie]

How much shorter are the 58/59 columns? I am finding the stock column with the flat stock wheel in my 56 is to close for me and am seriously thinking about looking for a later era column. here is mine with a deep dish wheel which made it damn near undriveable with the stock column

[roger55]

Originally Posted by dubie

How much shorter are the 58/59 columns? I am finding the stock column with the flat stock wheel in my 56 is to close for me and am seriously thinking about looking for a later era column. here is mine with a deep dish wheel which made it damn near undriveable with the stock column

The '57 column is shorter too.
The '57-'59 columns and wheels are identical.

That wheel you have will work perfect with a '57-'59 column. I have one laying outside my shop that I took out last year if you want me to measure it for you.

[OrrieG]

My build thread has details on my wheel restoration too.

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by dubie

How much shorter are the 58/59 columns? I am finding the stock column with the flat stock wheel in my 56 is to close for me and am seriously thinking about looking for a later era column. here is mine with a deep dish wheel which made it damn near undriveable with the stock column

The 57-9 columns are Approx 6" shorter at the most then the 55-56
if you look at the picture of the FlAT 55-56 steering wheel and then look at the
57-9 DISHED steering wheel the difference is the depth of the dish.
Allen

[roger55]

Here's a pretty good photo of the column and wheel in my '57 before I pulled it out:

[dubie]

well that would definitely give me a little more space in the cab

[roger55]

Originally Posted by dubie

well that would definitely give me a little more space in the cab

I just measured the dish in my '57 wheel and it's 5". So I'm guessing the column is 5" shorter.

[dubie]

Thanks for the measurement. I just may have to hunt down one of the shorter columns

[lowrodderchev]

on my 57 I shorten the column running Camaro clip and wanted to keep the straight column I had 54-56 wheel on it when it was stock height but since I shorten the column I ran a 56 210 wheel. so many options just depends on how far you wanna go

[roger55]

Originally Posted by dubie

Thanks for the measurement. I just may have to hunt down one of the shorter columns

I just went out back and looked for mine for you. Dang, I guess I already got rid of it as it's gone.