Trying to find tech on how to adapt a 1949 Mercury wheel to my splined steering shaft on my F1. Really don't wanna destroy my Merc wheel by swaping centers and not to excited about rigging a 3 bolt grant adapter. Any suggestions?? Any one have a keyed shaft they wanna sell? I wouldnt be opposed to cutting and rewelding the shaft.
If the shaft is the same size or bigger,Is there a way you could just take a grinder (or lathe)and grind it down and grind out a place for the keyway......and/or weld the keyway to the shaft? Proceed with caution whatever you do, thats a situation that could get dangerous..
In the thread about Snooky janich's 41 ford, the restorers modify a keyed column shaft to a spline to install a 50 crestliner steering wheel. The actually cut and weld on the splined part. You could probably do something similar. You might try a want ad over on the Ford barn for a partial column shaft. I just sold one when I sold my extra 46 ford column, the bottom 4 inches were bent where it went it to the gear box. Matt
Yeah I guess I forgot to state that the keyed wheels hole is bigger than the splined shaft, Ive already cut my steering column down when I moved my steering box up so I'm comfortable welding on it. 46fat Ill check that thread out, thanks
haven't done this, but could you remove the splined center from a donor wheel and turn it down to the right diameter to fit inside the keyed wheel as a sleeve then cut a keyway on the outside to match the key for the wheel.
Thats what I was starting to think too but it may just be more simple to cut yours off and weld another one on.
49 thru 51 Mercs , Lincolns, & pre-49 FoMoCo products all used tapered shaft with key. The shafts are tubular and the end taper is choked down with a machine or press to get the taper then the keyway & threads were cut. Shafts can be welded or insertion spliced with fishmouth, angle cut, or offset semi-circular cut & rosette welds if you can find a donor. They sell new ones for the more popular models of pre-49 cars. The problem is always finding the correct length since they differ so much between different models.
Just now seeing this thread so sorry for the late reply. I put my accessory wheel on my splined GM style column simply by cutting a key way in the splined shaft. The splined end fit tight inside the Merc wheel taper, so I just added the key for added insurance. Been driving it nearly daily for two years with no troubles. I outlined what I did including the adapter I made to make the horn ring work with the GM column in my rebuild thread. Search "un****ifying Merc" and it should come up. It will be close to the last page as the thread stands at the moment. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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