Hot Rods Ford f1

I'm hot rodding a 49 ford f1 and was wondering what you all used for steering columns and how they turned out? New or robbed from later model vehicles, it's all good

 

Early 70's ford truck column, floor shift model. Works great, has turn signal & flasher built in, the proper year steering wheel fits, and it's not a tilt. Can you say "WINNING"!

 

Early 90's, square body Jeep Cherokee. It's a GM column, tilt, cruise, intermintent wipers, hi beam switch. Available with or without shift lever and 30" long, perfect for an F1.

 

Stock works just fine for me.

 

I went with the toyota power steering and afther looking at some used ones not much around here to pick from,I went with the Borgsons out of Ct. If i had a stock one i would have used it.

 

I am embarr***ed to admit it and it is as street roddy as all hell, but I used an Ididit column on my '51. Painted and made my own column drop.

 

x2... I just raised the mounting position a few inches to keep the geometry in check with the lowering job. This also necessitated shortening the column a few inches too.

 

yea the last one I built I used the stock one.

maybe this is a question better asked at a street rod site.

 

Good thinking. Too many around here can't imagine raising the mounting point above frame rail, "It belongs in the frame!" LOL

I have had '52-'55 Ford p***enger (and F100) mast jackets ("columns") that I have used with the stock turn signal switch, length easily 'adjusted'...Hey, the 6 volt switch works on 12 volts, too. (the wiring is heavier, all the better!)

Very cool thing is the column shift linkage, should you want to shift a top-loader 3 speed Ford box...(post-'68, VERY heavy duty...everything fits. Synchro low gear, too!)

 

I really want a 'Swingaway' steering column like in the '61-'63 TBirds. (this was also an option in Ford p***enger cars, '61-'65?)

P***enger car has a friendlier bracket, hangs just below dash. Blows people's minds when you drive up and swing the wheel over to the p***enger side!
(especially in my '55 F100...anybody got one they'll sell? Just the shaft & column w/bracketing...)

 

I run IFS in my 51. Mine has a Flaming River narrow 1-3/4 tube tilt column mounting a Vintiques 40-Ford style 14" shallow wheel with the GM spline so the wheel fits with no ugly adapter. I split the stock drop and opened it up slightly to make it fit. The stock column location and angle was all wrong for me, and I run the stock seat. I really felt it after a long drive. After much experimentation, my column is centered under the gauge nacelles and goes through the floor at the top of the toe board about 2 inches left of the stock location and at a flatter angle. This allows me to rest my arm comfortably on the door while holding onto the wheel, and it still feels right after a long drive. It also allows the shaft connected to the R&P box to miss the engine by a wide margin. I get lots of compliments on the look of this combination.