I am restoring a '37 Chevy 1/2 ton truck, but I am aiming to modernize it to handle modern highway use. I am putting manual rack and pinion steering in it, and will be installing a steering column that resembles the original but will have a turn signal system in it. The problem I have is so far, everything I have found uses the modern 36 splined shaft to put a steering wheel on, and the original one that I want to use has no splines. It is a 3/4" bore and uses a key (a keyway). Does anyone know where I can find an adapter to mount the original steering wheel to a splined column shaft, or knows where I can buy an entire column with a keyed shaft for the steering wheel?
Thanks,
W. Feier
i think the 37 was the last of the keyway type steer wheel and the 38 used the splined system but the rest of the wheel was the same. You could look for a 38 or later wheel to trial fit to confirm my theory.
Tony
Thank you. I will look for a '38 steering wheel and see if it is close enough looking to the '37. Also with a little machining if necessary, I am thinking of getting a universal 3 bolt to GM spline adapter. The idea would be to align the '37 wheel hub to the adapter and drill 3 holes to accommodate the 3 bolts to secure the wheel to the adapter, then put the whole thing on the GM splined column and tighten the center nut. I might have to run a larger bit on a drill press down the center of the '37 wheel in order to make room for the nut to secure the wheel to the column.
Bill