The Ford Barn

elwood · 04-21-2019, 08:55 PM

Hey guys, I was wanting to know, did 34 coupes come with banjo steering wheels, and if so, how can I tell one from the other ?
I do have the 34 column but naturally the shaft is messed up,
Im going to Pate swap meet this week, and need to know what Im looking for, can someone post pictures and some measurements, and are all early ford shafts the same ?
thanks very much ……...

RalphM · 04-21-2019, 09:39 PM

Banjo steering wheel did not come out till 1937. Made till 1939? I believe.

DavidG · 04-21-2019, 09:50 PM

1936 model year was the first. All '33-'34 passenger car/commercial vehicle steering wheels were the same; there were no optional ones.

Period Ford passenger car/commercial vehicle steering column shafts were similar in configuaration and the same diameter, but the lengths varied by model year.

cas3 · 04-21-2019, 10:33 PM

all the shafts are the same size, the lengths vary. longer ones can be cut to size, mill a slot for the worm and you are done. the lengths are all listed in the green book, if you dont have one, speak up and i will look it up for you

RalphM · 04-22-2019, 09:42 AM

Now I knew it was 36, but for some reason I typed 37? Thanks David

elwood · 04-22-2019, 12:24 PM

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Thanks for the help guys ...

DavidG · 04-22-2019, 03:26 PM

cas3,

With respect, the distance between the threaded tapered end and where the lock collar attaches on the shaft is not same between the various model years, nor are the two holes in the shaft for attaching the collar oriented the same relative to the key ways at the top and bottom of the shafts.

cas3 · 04-22-2019, 03:54 PM

good point David, i should have mentioned that, but was mainly speaking that the shaft and the taper for the wheel is the same. to relocate the two threaded holes for the collar should have been mentioned, but not much of a road block either

Lawrie · 04-22-2019, 05:48 PM

Are you sure the shafts are the same length, Maybe a difference between 13-1 and 15-1 ratios.
Lawrie

rotorwrench · 04-22-2019, 06:09 PM

They should be same in each year of manufacture. The ratio was dependent on how the worm was cut and how the sector gear was spaced but I don't know why they would have changed the gearbox. If it was changed then the gearbox would have to be made to fit each ratio. I'm not sure Gemmer went that far with the ratio changes but they might have for a whole model year or at least a good part of one. The parts book only lists the one gearbox housing.

A longer or shorter pitman arm can also have an effect but it is generally in mechanical advantage more than ratio. It will cause it to move the steering a bit more or less.

cas3 · 04-22-2019, 07:06 PM

it seems i have started some confusion here. the op said he has a 34 column, but the shaft is messed up. assuming he needs just a shaft, i stated they are all the same. i should have said they will all work with some modification. diameter is the same, steering wheel mount is the same. now in the bible, length for 34 is 41.75, or 42.00 depending on which box you have. i always thought there was only one box, until now! but from 33 34 they get longer, so any one could be made to fit. now the worm itself for lawrie, for cars its 2.89 from 32 up to 48. trucks of course are longer. the distance to the lock collar holes, as pointed out by david, varies widely thruout the years, and the book does not give a diameter so i knew that would be the same, except model a's which are slightly bigger. i know that because old wrecked steering shafts are wonderful heavy wall tube to have in stock for kids with machine shops

04-21-2019, 08:55 PM	#1
elwood Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 1,053	Steering wheels and shafts Hey guys, I was wanting to know, did 34 coupes come with banjo steering wheels, and if so, how can I tell one from the other ? I do have the 34 column but naturally the shaft is messed up, Im going to Pate swap meet this week, and need to know what Im looking for, can someone post pictures and some measurements, and are all early ford shafts the same ? thanks very much ……...

04-21-2019, 09:39 PM	#2
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Steering wheels and shafts Banjo steering wheel did not come out till 1937. Made till 1939? I believe.

04-21-2019, 09:50 PM	#3
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Steering wheels and shafts 1936 model year was the first. All '33-'34 passenger car/commercial vehicle steering wheels were the same; there were no optional ones. Period Ford passenger car/commercial vehicle steering column shafts were similar in configuaration and the same diameter, but the lengths varied by model year.

04-21-2019, 10:33 PM	#4
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,578	Re: Steering wheels and shafts all the shafts are the same size, the lengths vary. longer ones can be cut to size, mill a slot for the worm and you are done. the lengths are all listed in the green book, if you dont have one, speak up and i will look it up for you

04-22-2019, 09:42 AM	#5
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Steering wheels and shafts Now I knew it was 36, but for some reason I typed 37? Thanks David

04-22-2019, 12:24 PM	#6
elwood Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 1,053	Re: Steering wheels and shafts Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks for the help guys ...

04-22-2019, 03:26 PM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Steering wheels and shafts cas3, With respect, the distance between the threaded tapered end and where the lock collar attaches on the shaft is not same between the various model years, nor are the two holes in the shaft for attaching the collar oriented the same relative to the key ways at the top and bottom of the shafts.

04-22-2019, 03:54 PM	#8
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,578	Re: Steering wheels and shafts good point David, i should have mentioned that, but was mainly speaking that the shaft and the taper for the wheel is the same. to relocate the two threaded holes for the collar should have been mentioned, but not much of a road block either Last edited by cas3; 04-22-2019 at 03:55 PM. Reason: add

04-22-2019, 05:48 PM	#9
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,221	Re: Steering wheels and shafts Are you sure the shafts are the same length, Maybe a difference between 13-1 and 15-1 ratios. Lawrie

04-22-2019, 06:09 PM	#10
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Steering wheels and shafts They should be same in each year of manufacture. The ratio was dependent on how the worm was cut and how the sector gear was spaced but I don't know why they would have changed the gearbox. If it was changed then the gearbox would have to be made to fit each ratio. I'm not sure Gemmer went that far with the ratio changes but they might have for a whole model year or at least a good part of one. The parts book only lists the one gearbox housing. A longer or shorter pitman arm can also have an effect but it is generally in mechanical advantage more than ratio. It will cause it to move the steering a bit more or less. Last edited by rotorwrench; 04-22-2019 at 06:17 PM.

04-22-2019, 07:06 PM	#11
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,578	Re: Steering wheels and shafts it seems i have started some confusion here. the op said he has a 34 column, but the shaft is messed up. assuming he needs just a shaft, i stated they are all the same. i should have said they will all work with some modification. diameter is the same, steering wheel mount is the same. now in the bible, length for 34 is 41.75, or 42.00 depending on which box you have. i always thought there was only one box, until now! but from 33 34 they get longer, so any one could be made to fit. now the worm itself for lawrie, for cars its 2.89 from 32 up to 48. trucks of course are longer. the distance to the lock collar holes, as pointed out by david, varies widely thruout the years, and the book does not give a diameter so i knew that would be the same, except model a's which are slightly bigger. i know that because old wrecked steering shafts are wonderful heavy wall tube to have in stock for kids with machine shops