57 Ranchero steering wheel adaptor & column questions

[Limey57]

Hi folks.  One of the few parts missing from my Ranchero was the original steering wheel, but it came with a new Grant Classic wheel, but with no adaptor to fit it to the Ford column.  My car is also fitted with a Wurth steering rack conversion, so.......

My investigations have shown that no installation kit/adaptor was ever made to fit an aftermarket 'wheel to a '57 and I have been recommended to get one for a 58 as only the horn wiring is different, so I've ordered one.  Apparently the turn signal switch is also different?  Is this true?  From your experiences, what is my best bet apart from sourcing a genuine '57 'wheel?

Also, I need to chop off the steering box and shorten the column to hook it up to the Wurth rack.  Pretty straight forward, BUT on assembling the column, the inner colum (3/4" diameter) is WAY too slack in the top bearing (I also have a brand new bearing with similar slack).  Does the original steering wheel have some sort of sleeve that slides over the inner colum, thus taking up the "slack" between the inner column & bearing?

I hope the above makes sense, if not I'll take some pictures to try and explain a bit better.

Thanks

[Ford Blue blood]

That slack was taken up by the fact the steering shaft was fixed on the box end and the tube was also fixed.  When you tightend up the steering wheel it put pressure on a spring that pushed the bearing tight.  You need to find a bearing that will fit inside the now cut off tube and that has a 3/4" ID to hold the shaft.  Put a spot weld on the shaft an appropriate distance up the shaft for the bearing to stop against, cut a small notch in the tube and peen the upper side down to keep the bearing from sliding up the shaft and peen over the end of the tube to keep the bearing from sliding out the end of the tube.......or get an after market column.  Flaming River, Borgeson

[Frankenstein57]

I might know what you are talking about, my 58 steering wheel was just pushed on and the retainer nut was finger tight. The wheel had alot of free play like something was missing. I looked in the Ford repair books that I have gathered to see what was missing, There is a cone shaped sleeve or bushing just below the steering wheel that can walk itself up. This makes the wheel feel like a part isn't there. I took some good lighting and two small screw drivers and reseated the sleeve, problem solved. I also looked at a 57 column to verify this, and it was the same. Hope this makes sense, Mark

[Limey57]

Thanks folks!  The lower bearing (needed now the 'box is cut off) I've sorted.  Trying to get hold of an imperial sized bearing over here was impossible until I found a lawn-mower repair specialist that stocked the correct sized bearing (1 3/8" OD x 3/4" ID), as its flanged it should be an easy fit (I've said that before.....).

Its the upper bearing where the trouble is, as Mark has said, there just seems to be something missing, the inner shaft OD is 3/4" but the bearing ID is about 1".  Some sort of cone shaped sleeve would certainly answer my problem.  The second problem is I don't appear to have the sleeve, so I'll scour EBay and see what I can find.

[Frankenstein57]

Limey, mine wasn't missing it just walked up the shaft. I pushed it firmly down into the column and it was good. Mark

[Partsman]

The original Ford parts catalog lists the same turn signal switch fitting 56 through 58 full size Fords.  The horn wires are separate.  The switch was available with or without the mounting plate.
Hope this helps.
Bill

[Limey57]

Well, I ordered a 58 fitting kit from Summit on Saturday and its just been delivered.  Thats damned good service for international shipping!

Okay, I'm still not 100% sure what goes where & what's missing regarding the bearing, so see the pics below:

Looking down the end of the original column you can see the slack between bearing & inner shaft.



In this picture, the inner shaft is removed and has the new bearing on the shaft, does the tapered piece go between the new adaptor thats on the end of the shaft and the bearing, pushing the tapered part into the bearing as the adaptor is tightened down the splines when the steering wheel nut is tightened?  The other bit in the picture is the turn signal cancel collar.  Is the tapered part available from anywhere?  I've been through all my spares & just can't find it.



Thanks

[Frankenstein57]

Limey, You had me wondering if I gave you some    So I went out to the shop and took the wheel off. Just below the wheel is the piece I talked about, its about 1/2" tall, made of thin metal sort of a mild taper, I was able to slide it off. It slips into a bushing looking piece. I'll see if my kids can help me post a picture, my computer skills are survival level at best.Can't get motivated to work on it tonight,37 degrees all day today, 40mph winds, rain,sleet. I'll give er tomorrow. I looked at two steering wheel removal/horn pictures in the shop manual, but it didn't show it. Mark

[Limey57]

Thanks Mark, I'd be real gratefull.  Sometimes it doesn't matter how long you stare at a pile of bits, you just can't figure out how they all fit!

[canadian_ranchero]

here is a page out of the 58-59 parts book,the part you need is #3518,p/n 8m3518.this part was used on 51-59 fords and 49-55 mercury.hope this helps

[Frankenstein57]

What he said, that part inserts into 3517. When I pushed it down into 3517 the play in the wheel stops. Mark

[Limey57]

Thats brilliant!  Thanks for the info, it all now makes sense.  3517 is the bearing, I need to source 3518, or get one made.

[Frankenstein57]

Let me look into my inventory, my 57 is going to have an after market column and rack. I can spare one I think. Hey Limey I found an extra, send me an email with the best way to ship it to you,Mark

[Limey57]

Mark, thats brilliant, I'll send you a pm.

[Limey57]

Mark, the adaptor turned up today, many thanks!!!!  I'm going on vacation tomorrow morning for 10 days, I'll be in touch as soon as I get back.