I’m working on my 54’ Chevy 3100 and was really hoping to use my original column but with other mods I did I had to abandon that and I ended up getting a GM style column from Speedway. I can still use the original steering wheel on the column so that’s great. My question is about horn retention because the new column uses a different setup than the original one used.
Has anyone done the adaption to be able to use the original 54’ or similar era wheel on a newer style column. It’d be great to hear how you did it. I attached a picture of the new column head and the original wheel. Thanks.
Adam
Last edited by klhansen; 07/03/20254:32 AM. Reason: fixed image display
Your new column has a button (at about 1 o'clock in your pic) for the horn contact. But the old wheel also has a button and used a contact ring on the column.
Just a suggestion but you might be able to glue a brass ring on the back side of the wheel that will make contact with the button on the new column. That ring would have to also have contact with the button in the old steering wheel and be isolated from ground. The horn cover on the old wheel would make contact with the button on the old wheel and the column shaft to ground the circuit.
I see in your second picture that there's a piece with a brass ring. If that fits below the wheel, then you could thread the wire attached to it thru a hole in the wheel and connect it to the plate that goes under the horn cover. That piece with the brass ring would have to rotate with the wheel.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
