Steering wheel swap

[BigBlueF250]

Has anyone ever put the smaller diameter 72 steering wheel on a 69 column? Were you able to make the horn work? Any issues at all?

Thanks, Steve

[robroy]

Good evening Steve,

I don't have specific experience with what you're trying to do, yet I did go in the other direction with my truck. Maybe browsing through that thread could give you some ideas.

How do I adapt a 61-70 steering wheel to my 72?

One difference that might interest you is that the 1972 steering shaft has an extra protrusion at the end, which might be there to prevent the '72 horn button from being pressed in too far, which could stress out the plastic. As far as I know this protrusion's kind of mysterious; nobody's certain about exactly why it's there.

Hopefully somebody will have done this exact modification and will add to this!

Robroy

[fordman]

it should work. in order for the horn to work you will have to run a ground across the rag joint. from one set of bolts to the other set. well just one of each.

[BigBlueF250]

Thanks Guys. I guess the main concern I have is that the 69 wheel has a horn brush in the turn signal switch as well as one in the wheel itself. Later switches have 2 contacts in them.

[fordman]

i didnt know that. or i havent seen them like that until 73 and up.

[BigBlueF250]

Well thats good news then. The later one I looked at was a 77 switch and wheel. I assumed the wheels were the same from 71-72 thru 77. Maybe it will work without any mods then???.....

[fordman]

i think the wheel schange din 77 but the columns didnt change until 78. and then i think the column changed again. i am unsure if and when the wheels changed. i am guessing at 76. but i remember someone saying the 73-75 wheels were slightly smaller at the hub. not by much. but that is what he said. i havent heard anythign abou tit since he said that a few years ago.