39 Ford Banjo to Chevy Van Tilt Column shaft...

Thought I would start here with you Knower's of all things Hot Rod.

Is there an adapter or info. on how to convert the Ford Banjo wheel to a spline wheel or turning the Chevy column into a Key Way shaft? Obviously the later would be the easiest. What have you found works well? Im sure an adapter is highly unlikely.

Thanks

 

I would like the same info good question.

 

Seems unlikely to me without major mods to banjo wheel. I will say that after using the van tilt columns in three cars, [really applies to all tilts] I would not bother with tilt, I would make sure I had seating/column arrangement settled and use an original style column. I have found that I never move the tilt after I find the right spot for driving. Just my thoughts.

 

You can purchase a repro Banjo from several sources that fit the late model columns. I have a Juliano on my van column and it works wheel. I have seen the stock wheels converted but it is not a common available conversion as far as I know. My friend had his machined to fit over the splines of the van column. The cost was $300.

 

I already have both... a nicely shortened tilt column in the Model A. I also have a beautiful stock Banjo Thant will lend itself perfectly to the project. So being I have them both I am hell bent on using what I have. I just went out and slid the wheel on the column. It taper of the wheel fits nicely over the splines of the column and the threaded shaft protrudes through the wheel about 3/4 of an inch. So just slipping it on with out any modification it fits well. Im guessing that I could justy cut the key way in the column shaft and use it in the same way as the Ford wheel was intended? Unless there is and adapter that some one knows about?

 

Btt

 

If you happen to have a keyed Ford shaft and a GM shaft to put side by side and compare you could easily figure out if just having a slot for the key cut in the shaft would work. The wrong taper and the wheel won't seat right on the shaft and will eventually rock a bit when you turn it.

 

I cut out the center of my '40 steering wheel and welded in the spline from the wheel that came with the van column. Working fine!

 

35-39 Ford banjo wheels have a diecast alloy hub with a center ring that the spokes are welded to. I haven't modified mine yet but I think you can make up a 3-bolt plate and weld it to the stock center ring the wheel "universal" to fit a Grant style 3-hole adapter bolted to the Chevrolet colun shaft.
Take alook and see what you think.

 

I think you would do better to get a street rod banjo wheel that will have the correct diameter hub to match up with your tilt turn signal equipped tilt column.

Yes you can weld on a partial shaft with the taper and key way but when you slip the wheel on it will look like **** with the 2 vastly different diameters.

Or you can ditch the tilt and make your own column that will match up with the hub on the 39 wheel.

I'm betting you didn't have a 39 wheel to look at when you asked this question.



This is a39 shaft and tube grafted on a 56 F100 steering box to use a 39 banjo. Just a tad bit smaller than a late model turn signal equipped tilt wheel column.

If you want a streetrod get a streetrod wheel if you want a hotrod get a hotrod column and use an original. JMHO.

 

someone makes an adapter , i think its on vintage fords site , i know because i was looking at one to run a 40 ford wheel on a gm column at one time but sold it and went w a repo !

 

A 40 wheel has a much larger hub diameter than a 39 wheel due to the column shift housing.