Here's my situation... I bought an a wesome '60 caddy wheel to use on King Of Trucks ('55 chevy) because I though all GM steering wheels were interchangeable from the '50s to the '80s. Turns out the caddy wheels are different. They have a larger splined opening than the chevy column. Has anyone successfully adapted a caddy wheel to a chevy column? How did you do it? I searched and found a couple of OLD threads suggesting cutting the center out of a chevy wheel and welding it in the center of a caddy wheel (after having cut out the same size hole as the chevy wheel). I got the idea nobody had actually done it, just thinking out loud. I don't know. So what does the hive mind of the collective genius that is the hamb think? As always, thanks for the help and thanks for this great place. You guys are the best!
Yes, people have cut the steel centers out of newer/older wheels and swapped them for the spline/taper they needed for the car/truck they are building. It is a lo-tech operation and works well.
Would a Grant adapter work? I've got a Grant adapter for a chevy laying around. I've also got the stock '55 chevy truck wheel I could ruin if I have to. This might be a dumb question, but how do you cut the center out? Hole saw? Pictures of the finished product may help me visualize this as well and would be appreciated.
My 53 buick wheel was too big for the f100 steering shaft so I got the buick steering shaft and cut the end off, swapped it over and welded it in.
That was another suggestion in the older threads, although I got the idea nobody had done it. I don't have a caddy column though.
I found this adapter for VW's on the innernetz. It's used for running larger (later model) VW steering wheels on smaller (earlier) columns. This would definately be the easiest way if there was such a thing for my application, but the size difference between the caddy and chevy being so small may not make it possible. Still searching the innernetz.....
Further searching reveals the chevy column is 11/16 with 36 splines. Anybody know what the caddy column is? Knowing the caddy size may determine if an adapter for something else can be made to work. And thanks again.
I will be interested in the answers as well. I am using a Buick wheel on a ford shaft and at some point will need to work out an adapter.
You need to machine out the center of the caddy wheel as large as you can with out screwing it up. Then cut the center out of your chevy wheel and turn it down to a press fit in the caddy wheel.Bolt it on the chevy column to check colunm to wheel clearence and make sure the top of the wheel is on top when the tires are straight. Remove and weld. This is easy if you have the correct equipment but not so easy if you don't. Find someone with a bridgeport and lath to help if you don't have them.
What can Limeworks do? I checked their site, all I saw were nice shiny three hole columns. I don't really want to drop the money for another column. I'd rather just get another wheel if it came down to that or swapping columns.
This one, is probably your easiest way out, If you don't mind a little fabricating................Your splice between the two, can be down inside the steering column "jacket", ( possible tubing sleeve splice between the two ),but then you will have to adapt / sleeve / bushing / bearing swap action at the top,if there are any differences in shaft O.D.
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