Steering wheel question

studdmstr · Post by **studdmstr** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:59 am

Will a 78-88 steering wheel bolt onto a 72 manual steering column without any modifications?

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:27 am

i would say it is very possible.

flyboy2610 · Post by **flyboy2610** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:17 am

A '78 wheel will. However, according to this tech article:
http://www.fordification.com/tilt.htm
in '79 there was a change and the spline count is different.

studdmstr · Post by **studdmstr** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:20 pm

Interesting article.

What years are the steering wheels interchangeable? One source says everything from the '50s through the '90s has the same shaft taper and spline count and another source says the spline count changed in '78, meaning there are two variations: '79-earlier and '80-later. Which is correct, verified by personal experience?

Looks like it's still up in the air.

I'm interested in this wheel since it looks close to my original and the price is good, but don't want to chance $30 unless I know for sure.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBay ... MEWA%3AIT

68F250 · Post by **68F250** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:15 pm

Hmm, I know the 80-86 truck/van wheel will fit a '73 if that helps.

The smaller, thinner wheel is a beach without power steering.

lobuck76 · Post by **lobuck76** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 4:28 pm

I think they changed up in '78. The shift collers got bigger. The splines may be the same. But they don't match up right at the bottom of the steering wheel. I had to go with the '78-'79 column to use a '79 sport wheel.

studdmstr · Post by **studdmstr** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 4:45 pm

lobuck76 wrote:I think they changed up in '78. The shift collers got bigger. The splines may be the same. But they don't match up right at the bottom of the steering wheel. I had to go with the '78-'79 column to use a '79 sport wheel.

Good to know. That makes my decision pretty easy then.

Thanks for all the replies.

rboeding · Post by **rboeding** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:07 pm

That wheel will have a D shaped set of splines. You can bolt it down and it will actually create the splines on the wheel. The horn and the turn cancel will not work though. That wheel has two copper rings for the horn on the inside and if you put in the cancel ring the horn honks all the time because it grounds the inside ring. I tried one on my 77 and no joy. On the otherhand I sold it back on ebay for $35 more than I paid for it.

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