I have always loved the C1 Corvette Wheels, and I have wanted one in my Roadster since I built it. But mating it to the F1 Box in my Roadster was something I wasn't into tackling quite yet. I know this isn't that hard to use my Lathe and Mill to accomplish. However as life goes and 14 years later I get asked to help sell off a C1 collection. In tht collection a****st other things is a really nice Charcoal Grey C1 Wheel. Ah the Inferno is lit! I did not buy that wheel at that moment thinking some other C1 Nut would love to put it into its proper place. I pictured it in a Black '57 with Silver Cowls. But nevertheless all the Red Wheels, White, Black, etc are selling but not my favorite. Fate is intervening for certain. So I needed to go North and on the way I stop and buy some 9 fins and relinquish the hopes of the wheel finding the "right" Vette. The orphan cast off is now mine! So I start making measurements, designing the elaborate process for making the very adapter I envision and need for the marriage of these two long overdue pieces. My Ford Roadster and a Corvette Wheel to complete the "Look" I want. But someone smarter than me (my Wife) consistently she's a genius around here at my expense. She's the best thing that God ever put in my life without question. With a gentle but intuitive suggestion of Look on the 'Net? So I type in - 1939 Early Ford Steering Column To C1 Corvette Steering Wheel Adapter. What comes back is : 1939 Early Ford Steering Column To C1 Corvette Steering Wheel Adapter SCTA TROG I hit Buy it now and hope for the best. Much of this stuff is not all it's cracked up to be. We've all had that experience. The moment of truth - HOLY MOLY IT WORKS, but how will it work in the Roadster? The Wheel looks Great to me, and the Column Adapter fits as advertised and is a High Quality Piece. At this point I want to thank Seller: bilstom on Ebay. Well Done Sir, completely happy as to how this worked. Now here is where I depart from the part as purchased. I appreciate the Cover piece and note fully it is a perfect solution to the adaptation at hand. But I needed more pizazz and some sort of Ford-ish notation. This is where the Mill and Lathe come into the picture. So I chucked up the center piece and bored a hole into a perfectly good cover. Sometimes bravery works and sometimes it doesn't. In this case for me it worked. Kidding of course it took a couple of days and hours of thought to ruin a good piece. But it must be done to satisfy and 75% of what I want just doesn't fly around here. It's often 100% or Fail around here. So I dug through the emblem pile and found of all things a Thunderbird Landau ****on that seemed to fit the bill. A couple measurements and a boring bar later Viola - We got some Ford pizazz. Yes, I polished it and added the finish with Scotch Brite while I had it in the Lathe. Don't worry the emblem was changed out for a brand new one from a Thunderbird Parts House. Now We need a Horn. The Adapter does not have this feature, but getting one figured out is a necessity. How Else can I tell that special driver on his phone to GO!? Having old Ford Junk around en m*** is really handy for both engineering, raw materials, and dimensions. This case is no different If you are a visual learner like me this explains it all. It's an isolated system which the ****on when pushed makes contact with the Horn ground wire in the Ford System. Simple enough and nothing ruined in the lesson. In the end I went to the local hardware store and bought a PEA TRAP plastic seal and dug through the Radiator Hose inventory for a spring big enough to go around the nut,but not so big as to exceed the outside radius inside the adapter. Viola It all comes together, Also in the end I just used a big Socket and peened over a rudimentary cup to hold the Spring against the top on the plastic emblem. As a safety measure I used Electrical Tape to ensure isolation of the steel ****on on top and the teflon seal makes sure it stays isolated. The spring should last as long as I need it to, as it's designed for hot, cool, and expansion/contraction elements. Longer Socket Heads to allow for the height needed for horn action and it's a working horn on a Corvette Wheel with a cool (at least to me) emblem on my Ford Roadster. 14 years worth of a nagging desire accomplished. https://youtube.com/shorts/O6C7ZVMVPtg?si=xy_H4RvI3jzxNrEp So in short - if you want a Corvette Wheel in a Ford go on Ebay buy this adapter, Ruin a cover plate with the hole of your emblem choice, and use plumbing parts to make the horn work. Just Like that! Happy Motoring - Tim
All those ****y ingredients make a very nice dish Excellent presentation, had me on the edge of my seat Well done
That came out nice. I had a red one out of a 59 in my 48 for a long time until some guy with a 59 made me an offer I couldn't refuse one day. I never had a cool horn ****on on it though.
Like it I put a C1 Corvette wheel on my current 32 build however I have an aftermarket steering column which made it easier. Good job!
Had a red wheel on my coupe. Had to be careful when I hit the tilt lever not to bruise my fingers. Prettiest wheel made. Still have he adapter.
oof, before they were that much. Maybe try a best bid. Mine was priced at a spot where I was willing to take a chance on it.
Back in the late '50's a friend had a very nice '41 Ford coupe with a Corvette steering wheel. No idea how they mated it up but it was very cool.
The Jalopy Journal
