I want to run a '40 Ford steering wheel on a F1 steering column for my '32 5W. Can't remember the correct name of the piece I want to make/get is the one at the top of the column so the steering wheel and column flow nicely. Any ideas on how to make one?
I think I saw a thread once of a guy cutting up a metal cone shaped desk lamp shade for that same purpose.
One of those coned shaped wheel center caps, like an American mag would have. Or look at toothbrush holders, that type of stuff.
An exhaust pipe size adaptor comes to mind but it won't look stock. The masts pop up on eBay from time to time, the truck ones look better than the p***enger car ones.
I think the best bet for making a column bell is to spin one on a metal spinning lathe (which most people don't have access to), or to repurpose something that is the correct size and shape for you. You can also buy one from Limeworks and attach it to your column.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-a-column-transition-from-a-lampshade.993366/ I found a similar lamp for $1 at Salvation Army a couple of weeks ago, but without the vent holes in it.
I thought the nicest one was the guy who used a weld-on domed pipe cap with a hole cut in the center. I cant find it now, it was a tech week thread a couple years ago. I had it saved in my favorites, but that computer took a ****.
Found it, but sadly, all the photos are gone... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-week-20-steering-column-with-minimal-tools.677999/
That's exactly what I'm going for. I have the '40 column as well as the steering wheel but the collar I believe is pot metal so don't know of I could fill the turn signal hole.
Heres an online photo of the style of pipe cap he used for the transition. You cut a hole in the center of the pipe cap that matches the od of the column jacket, and weld it on. The od of the pipe cap should match the back-side of the steering wheel you use. This should give you an idea of what it looked like. I want to do the same deal on my '39, then get it chromed...mmmmmmmm, chrome....
I made that exact deal for my car. Used the bottom of an expired shop fire extinguisher. It matches the 40 wheel perfectly. No close up pic but you get the idea. Hole saw the column size on the piece, weld to column, chuck column in lathe and turn to diameter of base of wheel, paint. Subs***ute your grinder or whatever if you don't have the lathe.
For my F1 I used the piece from under a Superior style steering wheel. Flipped it over and attached to the backside of the wheel.
I have spun a few on the lathe but it takes time and you end up with some s****. i like the idea of using the end cap.
Here is an out of the box solution. Check out post #87 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...vice-33-coupe-freshen-up-hop-up.956910/page-3
On my T I used the top piece from a '40 column, filed off the shifter boss, and filled the remaining hole with JB weld. I did drill a few random holes in the area to be filled to help lock the JB weld in place. Then pressed this over an F-1 column tube, not used with a '40 wheel; but the chrome giz under the wheel is from a Grant '40 kit. On my '35 I used the top off a '40 column, filled the same way, spliced to an original '35 column, this time with a '40 wheel. Over the years, I've filled a lot of die cast column pieces, GM tilts, etc with no problems.
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