I’m a big guy with very long legs (6’3”+ and mostly leg) and am looking for ideas to make enough room for my legs in a stick shift ‘32. I sat in a car tonight that was a very traditional build with an F100 box and ‘50 ford wheel. The seat is low and all the way back and there was simply not enough room for my knee between the wheel and the door to get my left foot up and on the clutch pedal. I’m not saying it was uncomfortable; there was literally no way to get my foot on the pedal. Anyone got any ideas of a wheel that would look great that may be smaller diameter and/or dished to give me more room for my knee? Aesthetics are really important for a period car of the late 50’s. Not looking for seat or column suggests. It’s either that, a blister in the door for my knee, or a find a Dr. to install hinge in the middle of my shin! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Many a vintage steering wheel got a smaller rime cut and welded to the center of the much larger wheels of the 50's cars. Not really a big deal. They are all steel inside the plastic cover.
I recently picked up this 17" wheel for my 36 ford, its somewhat similar to a banjo wheel but much less in cost, YMMV (speedway $59)
Bump for the morning crowd. Anyone used the re-pop 15” T-bird (56/7) wheel? I need a high quality piece. With enough dish, the diameter may not matter so much. I know anything is possible with a welder and some epoxy, but I was hoping to find an easier solution. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Cowboy, I have the same issue as you in a small hot rod big and tall driver . I like to use the 1940 ford steering wheels and they are 17 inch. I believe your 50 is 18 inches so a inch will help a bit but limeworks makes a 1940 for wheel that is 16 inches. I have that in my 1932 channeled roadster and works good but still tight for me..
Excuse my ignorance because I am unsure of when ford switched from keyway and taper mount to a splined shaft. If it is compatible how about a 54 ford wheel, looks like quite a bit of dish, still a large diameter but may work for you? personally I don't care for those smaller diameter repop wheels they just look out of place to me. no offense to people that have em.....
John, thanks for the suggestion. I’ve heard the Limeworks wheels are quality. I think the dish is going to be the key for my situation more than the diameter. But every dished wheel I’ve seen looks so out of place to me! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I agree that the repop wheels seems off. May be the best solution unfortunately. I appreciate the feedback. I think I remember reading ford switched from the taper starting in ‘49. Anyone know for sure? Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Sheller made some 15” wheels for various things, you can look for one of those. Some have 40 spline tho
I love the dished wheels but never found a wheel that looked in place. I will agree with the aftermarket wheels and not a huge fan but works for me till I find one that works. The issue for me is raising my leg (thunder Thighs) to do the clutch as the roadster is three on the tree.
How about something like this 'Bell' repo?.... https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Comp...ering-Wheel-Stainless-Steel-15-Inch,2054.html It would look period-correct, you'd just need the right Grant adaptor for the column.
49 was still tapper and key. The switch to spline was mid year 50 along with factory turn signal switches inside the column cup. This was the same for Mercury.
I'm pretty picky but also the same height so I went with 17" wheels on both my 34 roadster and my 41 truck under construction. The 34's banjo is from Juliano's. Hydro dipped wood graining. The trucks Crestliner wheel is from Limeworks and will be painted Wimbledon white stliner is from Limeworks. It will be painted Wimbledon white.
The thread of the ultimate steering wheels, page 2 has a roadster with a early Nova steering wheel which is smaller. Chevelle, Corvairs also have a smaller steering wheel of the same style.
That's a '56 in the picture, first year Ford had a dished wheel. A '54 wheel is flat and probably about the same diameter as your '50 wheel, so it wouldn't help you. As far as an attractive wheel, I like the '55 Ford wheel a lot, but it's large diameter and flat. A '57-'58 Ford wheel I think may be a little smaller diameter than the '56 wheel pictured. Best I remember, '49 and up shaft has splines, '48 and earlier has a keyway. I put an original Ford wheel for my '38 on a '77 Monte Carlo column. The Monte Carlo shaft is splined but has the same taper as the Ford shaft. Just cut a keyway in the GM shaft.
I don't know if this will help you but when building my 34, I wanted a smaller [14"] rim with early styling. I bought a 14" tubular hoop and a buddy gave me an old wheel from a 40 Buick. I cut off the damaged rim and bent the spokes up to connect to the new hoop. I haven't seen these hoops advertised since then but when over at a buddy's shop I spied several hoops hanging on his wall,,,they were the foot rests from a common bar stool! I made another wheel with the barstool part and a 36 caddy wheel..
I like how the smaller wheel speeds up turning and has a better overall feel.. I use the plain old Grant...
The Jalopy Journal
