Any chance you could take the shaft out of a later model GM column,and make it fit the early Ford column?You'd have to get creative with bushings or bearings,but it would be clean,without any welding.
Thanks Ian. I remember C9 had a post or was going to post about just using tail pipe to form a housing and fitting bearings/shaft to same. But I can't find it. No luck out in never never land either. Since I have this steering column with the nice switch, nice lines and all I want to use it. So some how it will work. Looking for some who took the steps first.
I think Unkl has the answer. Get a column and shaft outta any '55 to '61 and maybe up to '64 Chevy. Just cut the shafts (both the Ford and Chevy are about 3/4") and splice together at the right length. The tube of the '55 is 2" dia. and the Ford is 1.5" dia, but that just means youd need to make a bushing to take up the difference. Cut the tube to length, install bushing, and place that Impala wheel on it. I'm real sure that '59 wheel should fit any 55 to 61 becasue I have '61 Impala wheel on my 55 Belair. If you can't find a column (Choprods maybe?) let me know. I'll see what I can come up with. Corn
I think Glen posted pics of how his club members were making up real slick clean columns using stainless tubing and a GM shaft.I think they used sealed bearings on top,and Delrin bushings at the bottom.Easy enough to machine the bottom of the shaft to accept a U-joint.
Now I have something to look forward to at work tomorrow. What I was saying about using the '55 tube was****uming you're wanting to use just the '42 box but use the full length of '55 tube, as well as the head and turn signals. If you don't want the turn signals, I'd just do like Unkl said and use a late model GM shaft with all new tubing and bearings. I bet GM didn't change their splines on the wheel end of the shaft until at least the mid 80's. Either way, you don't get to use your clean '42 column.
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