Need Help with Steering Wheel/Column 68 1100C

[Perci]

Here is my new-to-me 68 1100C Pickup with manual steering and brakes. It is in very good overall condition, having been painted, new brakes, engine and mechanicals very good and no rust anywhere. However, whoever started the previous restoration kind of left off with some of the cab wiring. I am trying to get the truck ready for a NY inspection, and am running into the problem in the photos with sorting out the turn signals and horn. The turn signals kind of work, but if press the brakes, both turn signal lights on the dash come on, and don't blink. Of course, the horn does not work at all.

Looking at the steering column and wheel, where do you think I should start? I believe the steering wheel is correct for a '68, but it is obviously not seated, or something is causing the gap behind the wheel. With manual steering, the entire column is solid to the gear, and the steering column itself appears to be in its normal position. I have the full service and parts manuals. Was something installed backwards perhaps? I was just hoping for some guidance before I pull the wheel and get deep into it.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Perci]

I was hoping to still get a little help on this problem with the steering wheel not properly seating on my 68 1100C pickup. To try to figure out what is causing the gap between the wheel and the cowl, I pulled the steering wheel, and this is what I found. I have a parts book, and the order of the spring and spacer is incorrect. I believe the cup should be at the bottom with the spring on top. Not sure about that space, as I don't see it in the parts diagram. This truck is new to me, and it looks like the PO installed a deluxe wheel and horn ring. If I install the wheel without any springs or spacers, it has the same gap as shown in the 4th and 5th picture. The wheel is bottoming out on the shoulder of the steering column itself.

I just don't have any experience with these trucks. Is the deluxe steering wheel just not compatible with the steering column that is in this truck, and I simply have to find the correct steering wheel? Or, is there something messed up with that bottom cowl, that it should be extended somehow, or perhaps there is a cowl specific to this style wheel, that the PO didn't change out?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me on this.

 

[ihpartsjeff]

I haven't torn down enough of these columns to know off hand what might be wrong with your set up. So I opened up the parts book and from what I see the spring and cup (or in the parts book its called a dust cap) in your first picture belong on the lower end of the steering column. The spacer is correct and goes between the steering wheel and upper column bearing. But that spring and dust cap, from what I am seeing in the parts book, should be located between the lower end of the column and lower bearing.

 

[Perci]

Jeff, thanks for the help on this. I think though the parts diagram you are showing is for a power steering column? Mine is manual, and the center main shaft runs continuously straight down to the steering gear. I definitely don't have that lower connector with the two bolts that I assume connects up the a rag joint. So that whole lower spring assembly is at the top in mine, under the wheel. That makes me wonder then, if maybe that part 18 or even the shaft 19 is different on my manual steering shaft, and so the dimensions are working correctly and leaving the gap under the wheel. The wheel definitely seats fully on the shaft, so I'm wondering if there is something subtly different in the dimensions of those parts?

 

[ihpartsjeff]

The diagram I showed was for one for a late C model column regardless of manual or power steering. Looking at diagrams for earlier year models, the spacer is not shown. Maybe that spacer in some way is the culprit? Have you tried installing everything without the spacer?

 

[Perci]

Sorry I didn't get back to this thread sooner. Over the weekend I was busy trying to track down a possible junker truck I could get parts off of.

I made a mistake in stating the year of my truck. It is registered as a 68, and all paperwork I have on it says 68. However, it appears to be a late 67 that was registered as a 68. I finally realized the model number was stamped on the door plate, and it says 1100B. So I have a 67 with the solid steering shaft, prior to the design change for the 68 models.

I did try installing the wheel without the spacer, or anything else. Is seats solidly on the splined shaft against the shoulder, and when tightened the nut has a few threads exposed on the shaft end, so I am pretty certain the wheel is fully seated on the splined shaft. So if I treat this as a 67 or earlier style solid steering column, then either the steering wheel, which the PO apparently used from a 68, is a different depth than a 67 (presumably the older 4 spoke style), or the conical cowl underneath the wheel where the directlional stalk goes in, has slightly different dimensions. The splined shaft itself must be the same, since the wheel fits it properly. The large gap under the wheel prevents the horn contact with the spring from contacting the underside of the steering wheel, thus no horn.

So it would seem I either have to go back to a 67 or earlier steering wheel, or investigate the conical cowl underneath the wheel, which would have to be longer to meet up with a 68 style wheel.

I don't have any other IH pickups around the area that I can look at in person or take measurements on, so I am working blind here, since I have no direct experience with these trucks.

If I take detailed measurements, does anyone have access to a 68 style segmented steering column, so they could measure the length of that conical cowl, and the outside thickness of the steering wheel? Also, without changing out the entire steering column, it looks like I will need to find an older style steering wheel to replace what is on there, if I want to have a functional horn and close the gap. I can just screw on an aftermarket horn button for now to get it inspected, but I would like to solve this issue. I know finding a steering wheel in decent condition won't be easy. If anyone has something halfway decent, I can try to repair the cracks and perhaps repaint it. If anyone has one for sale, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[Dougt]

Hello,
Wondering if you've had any success with this. I have a 67 1300B. The horn button is there but that's all, just like yours. I tracked down a horn contact cable, but haven't looked into how to install it. Like your truck, I wonder why it was removed in the first place. If you still require measurements or other information, let me know.
Doug