Has anyone fitted a 39 Banjo steering wheel onto a Model A column? I'm re-reading Hop Up #6 featuring Steve Beck's "A Bomb", and note that he runs a 39 wheel on an original steering column, including both levers for advancing the ignition, and the throttle. I've tried my wheel on my column, and it need some major surgery to make it fit. Both are tapered and keyed . Any-one done it, or know what to do to get the wheel to fit? Thanks in advance for you input.
Here's what I think is a 40 wheel on an A column. Not a lot of help I know, but I'm wondering if a 40 shaft would work topside with the wheel and fit into the A steering box. More than likely this shaft is a 40 shaft top section welded to the A lower shaft. Easy to do in a safe manner if you use a reinforcing sleeve, rosette welds etc. The car in the pic is a built banger that was the fastest car in high school in the early 40's.
Jay, The 37 steering shaft I have is of a smaller diameter that the Model A one. I was trying to use the Model A shaft, but it seems too short to allow the 37 Banjo wheel to fit. I have other banjo wheels, but they all have the same back-spacing BTW, Thats a bitchin interior shot.
The Model A shaft proper is too short? Or it's the tapered wheel mount area that doesn't make it? If the Model A shaft does fit the wheel maybe shortening the outer jacket would do it . . . you've probably thought of this one already. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's a shot of the outside of the banger coupe. Pic taken maybe 4 years ago. The coupe had just been pulled out of a barn where it had been since 1952. Note the chopped top, a rarity for the time . . . especially on the street. It was purchased by my friend who went to school with the owner. Class of 1947. What makes the graduation date interesting is the guy standing next to the coupe in this pic. He's the metal shop teacher from my friends high school. In his 90's and still very active last I heard and he used to drop by to use the big lathes etc. in my friends private machine shop. Hot rods and the tools to build them keep you forever young....
Its the inner shaft that is too short, as the steering wheel won't sit on the taper correctly, as the rear of the steering wheel hits the column. I want to use the levers to switch the wipers and lights on, by using micro switches on the end of the rods. Can I shorten the column, and still use the rods?
Its the inner shaft that is too short, as the steering wheel won't sit on the taper correctly, as the rear of the steering wheel hits the column. If I'm reading you right, it sounds like the wheel may fit on the Model A shaft. Have you tried pulling the jacket and seeing if the wheel fits the bare shaft? Shortening the jacket is no big deal. I want to use the levers to switch the wipers and lights on, by using micro switches on the end of the rods. Can I shorten the column, and still use the rods? Looking from here, I don't see why not. If shortening the jacket does the trick, next up would be shortening the rods which is no big deal. Do you still have the 37 steering shaft? Try fitting the Model A steering wheel to that. That would be an inverse way to find out if the 39 Banjo wheel would fit the Model A shaft. So many times Detroit and Dearborn used the same spline patterns for many years on many different, but close in size cars. I'm not sure if I have the requisite photo, but I'll do some digging. It's possible the jacket shown in the pic above is a 40.
Got a pic stovebolt? A bit like C9, I kinda sorta understand what you're saying - I think, but a picture or two would help. But as it stands, I'm with C9, shorten the mast jacket and rods as necessary once you verify the taper fit. And it sounds like you'll have to remove the jacket anyway to get decent access to the shaft.
Looks like that's what is needed - shorten the mast jacket to move the shaft out of the column a bit further - I can't believe I had such a BIG BLOND MOMENT!!!!! Thanks for the input - Fuck I'm Dumb sometimes - I'll blame night shift
Let us know what happens. I'm curious about the wheel fit. I did some digging for a pic of the A coupe's steering box and the lower part of the jacket, but couldn't find one. Seems I got enthralled with the header and OHV conversion and shot most of the pics on the right side of the car....
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