Smaller steering wheel diameter

M

martinjbraun

New member
Members, I have a 1949 Ford F-1 and am interested in purchasing a smaller diameter steering wheel. Do any know of what might be available after market?
 
The smaller the wheel, the more turns you have to make. These trucks are hard enough to steer and to add more to the effort seems backwards. I'd stay with the stock wheel, unless you are rodding the truck and have added power steering. Just my 2 cents.....
 
martinjbraun said:
Members, I have a 1949 Ford F-1 and am interested in purchasing a smaller diameter steering wheel. Do any know of what might be available after market?
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I don't know of a smaller stock wheel. I have a 40 sedan delivery
with a Chevy tilt column and wheel. I wanted to put a Ford banjo
on it so I took an older one, cut the 3 spokes, tack welded the SS
strands together and cut them off at 16" or so from the 3/8" steel
ring that is imbedded in the plastic wheel. Then cut the wheel
where the SS strands were welded to the 3/8" wheel in 3 sections.
Took a few inches off each of the 3 segments, stood each one up
in an arbor press and changed the radius so the wheel would be
round at a smaller diameter. Welded them back together and
welded the SS strands back to 3/8" ring. Put the chevy mounting
hub in and grafted a 40 Ford horn ring on. Filled and reshaped with
PC-7 sanded and primed with epoxy primer. Painted with a 2 part
paint. It was a number of years ago and still looks perfect. G.M.
 

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The number of turns lock to lock does not change with a smaller diameter steering wheel just the effort to turn the wheel. The smaller diameter wheel has less leverage advantage.
 
A bones said:
One wheel is measured at the tread, steering wheel gets measured by the 'axle'.
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What does tire tread and axles have to do with lock to lock on a steering box?? Do you think lock to lock on a steering box changes with the steering wheel diameter?

R
 
Ronnie said:
What does tire tread and axles have to do with lock to lock on a steering box?? Do you think lock to lock on a steering box changes with the steering wheel diameter?

R
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Almost kind'a scary after realizing that some of these wizards even consider themselves competent enough to do their own mechanic'n on their rides. DD
 
Barry-ct said:
The smaller the wheel, the more turns you have to make. These trucks are hard enough to steer and to add more to the effort seems backwards. I'd stay with the stock wheel, unless you are rodding the truck and have added power steering. Just my 2 cents.....
Click to expand...

I'd argue that the amount of turns remains the same regardless of wheel size. ;)
 
Ronnie said:
What does tire tread and axles have to do with lock to lock on a steering box?? Do you think lock to lock on a steering box changes with the steering wheel diameter?
Click to expand...

Nothing at all. Except I was responding to a post (#6 ) that has been deleted. The comparison made was not valid. Referencing gearing calculations with tire circumference to effort of steering. ( You hadda be there ) Hence he apologized.

No way No how. Post #6 was responding to post #2 which if read properly is contradictory in itself. For the record when I said axle, I was referring to the column, The axis.

No offense no harm, just using the keyboard. The fact is though, all my junk, except the avatar is safe to about 85 mph.
 
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Back in high school I had a '65 flat nosed Chevy van that came with a huge bus-like steering wheel. Of course, being a teenager at the time, I swapped in a 9" wheel. With a smaller wheel, you have to move your hands twice as much, so it seems like more turns.
 
Mike51Merc said:
Back in high school I had a '65 flat nosed Chevy van that came with a huge bus-like steering wheel. Of course, being a teenager at the time, I swapped in a 9" wheel. With a smaller wheel, you have to move your hands twice as much, so it seems like more turns.
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To turn the steering wheel 10°, the smaller one will not turn as far as a larger one.
 
Back to the original question, Check out the adds in Street Rodder or similar mags. Julianos are advertising a 15 inch steering wheel for a 40 Ford. Not an exact match for your P/U, but might be an acceptable option.
 
This thread makes me wonder if there might be any interest in some sort of an "Old Ford and General Automotive Engineering" IQ test by 'Barners? DD
 
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