Hot Rods Horn wire routing?

I'm sorting out routing of the horn wire on my Vicky. The plan is to use the top 3' of a '48 Ford steering shaft with hollow core. I have the typical Grant adapter and the center of an old Bell sprint car wheel along with a rim from some unknown donor at the U-Pull-it from somebodies abandoned '49 Chev custom project. Pa. requires finger grips on a wheel so I couldn't run the foam grip.

To use the horn ****on, I need to get a grounding source for my relay up the column and out the bottom somehow. On stock Fords the wire p***es through the box and out the bottom. Because I need a universal joint in my steering this is no longer an option.

My plan is to possibly put enough slack in a flexible silicone 16ga. lead inside the column to allow it to wrap for the 2 1/2 turns lock to lock I need. I would like to use the horn ****on on the wheel as opposed to a dash ****on for a bunch of reasons.

Just wondering if anybody has devised some brilliant solution I haven't thought of to make this work. There is no room in the bell, (a '40 column mast the Homemadehardtop57 has offered to the project), so I can't use the common wiper ***embly. I'm pretty sure the flex wire will work OK but I keep thinking there must be a better way. The flange in the second pic is an 1 1/2" drain flange from Lowes which works great as well and looks remarkably like a '40 flange when painted.

 

Just did this at work on a 32 roadster we are building. Since we went with a cross steer had to move the box forward of the stock side steer mount. Had to use a U joint in the column. With a 40 Ford wheel the wire went down the center of the shaft. 1950's Jeep CJ's used an insulated bushing on the steering shaft with a spring loaded wiper to get the power outside of the shaft and column. The horn wire runs down the center of the shaft like stock, a hole is drilled in the shaft so the insulated wire p***es through the shaft and is soldered onto the insulated bushing that the wiper rubs on. I made the bushing using a copper pipe union some thin cardboard and JB weld. Below is a picture of the wiper and the insulated bushing the Jeeps use. I don't know if the bushing is the correct diameter for your build, as I made mine.

 

Absolutely Perfect! that's just what I was looking for. I can put the bushing inside the column and keep it out of the weather. There are several options on the wiper including the one that comes with the Grant kit. Nothing exposed and nothing shows.

Thanks BJR! I always find new tricks on the HAMB. I'll put this on my build thread as I get it taken care of.

 

Have done quite a few columns as BJR mentions on early Fords--no problem.

 

This might be what you need.
https://www.limeworksspeedshop.com/Retro-Horn-Kit-p/rhk1001.htm

I used this on my Limeworks '40 column and wheel

 

Found all the parts online. On the way.

Thanks again!

 

Received all the parts today I need to make the wiper ***embly. I need to sleeve the contact ring to fit the 3/4", '48 Ford shaft but that's no big deal. Everything under the dash so no visible contraptions. Working perfectly!

Thanks again BJR!

 

Post up some pictures as you do it, it may help others with the same problem.