The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering wheel

Will a 1954 steering wheel from a 3100 fit a 1953 3600 ?

Oh come on someone chime in please!!

I would think it would, But could be wrong!
Pull your old one off and measure the bore, then check it to the new one.
Happy now LOL

Don

I can't answer your question because I've never tried to do it...

The book has the '53 as Gray and the '54 as Black, so they have different part numbers...no help.

The steering shaft on the '53 is longer by 5/16", so that's no help either.

So, looks like there were changes between '53 and '54...was it just styling or mechanical/fit as well?

Let us know what you find out!

Mike B

It will fit on the splines and work just fine.
The reverse swap might not work due to the blinker collar on the end of the '54 mast. But then again, that collar may well be removable and the reverse swap may also work.

In line with Carl (ouch! that hurt):
As far as the spline goes, the GM spline goes WAY back....... and up until about the air bags era. All the same. As far as the "blending" to a particular column aesthetically, depends.

If you had put more information in the topic line, maybe the folks who know might have checked it out.

Stovebolt.com covers all GM trucks before 1973, people tend to only click on topics they might know something about.

Just a heads up.

-Woogeroo

I've swapped several steering wheels before, some work, others not so much. And I didn't chime in because I was asleep at 0218.

I'm putting a 56 wheel on my 53 so I can use The integrated turn signals. I think the wheel is the same as the 54. The column and the shaft are the same. The difference is that the 56/54 wheel is dished 4". I had a local shop cut the shaft down 4" and weld it. I cut 4" off the tube.The turn signal mech has a clamp on the inside and just slides over the shaft. I bought the wheel and turn signal mech for $20 at the junkyard. The welding shop charged me $30 to shorten the shaft. The new internal switch for the turn signal was about $30. It cost me about $20 to restore the wheel ( it's quite dirty now). Thank you for your time.

Mick,

What did your '56 wheel come off of?

Mike B

You bought a 57-59 wheel. It is dished and the 57-59 column is shorter than 55.2-56. 56 same wheel as 54-55.1. You could have gotten a 54-56 column with column bell turn signal and use your original wheel probably....or a 54-56 wheel. Also 53 cars had column bell integral turn signals.
With using your original 53 wheel, you may have had to add a canceler.

I think it was a tri five apache. All those columns are the same from the corvette to pickups in that they are all a 2" (I think) tube. My electric power steering kit is made for a corvette and is the same kit as the 53 3100. I'm not an expert on these trucks, I build factories so I'm just going from my personal experience.

go to the grant steering wheel page and see if the wheel adapters are the same between 54 and earlier models

bartamos is right on the spot. In my experience, any Chevrolet steering shaft from 1954 up to ? will fit but, turn signal housing can vary in type from year and model. I put a 1964 Impala on a 55 .5 and used a Pontiac collar to match (GTO). Good luck, Doc.

I finished restoring my turn signal mech and altered my cruise control handle to fit. I got the mech and the wheel off the same truck. I have a couple more of of these and all mine are the same. At least one of them came off a car.