I have a 56 Hawk, and I'd like to retrofit this steering wheel I have from a 1957 Commander. I'm 6' 2" and the 18? inch 1956 wheel gives me almost zero leg room, and is in need of serious epoxy repair.
Is there an easy way to do this without changinging the column? I can see it's definitely not a dead swap, and was wondering if anybody makes an adapter, or knows of a workaround.
A few years back BondoBilly recruited the steering wheel out of my 56 Golden Hawk. It was sent to the Shrock Brothers for reproduction. You may want to contact them. I was given one and it's a real beauty.
A few years back BondoBilly recruited the steering wheel out of my 56 Golden Hawk. It was sent to the Shrock Brothers for reproduction. You may want to contact them. I was given one and it's a real beauty.
A few years back BondoBilly recruited the steering wheel out of my 56 Golden Hawk. It was sent to the Shrock Brothers for reproduction. You may want to contact them. I was given one and it's a real beauty.
The Shrock Brothers wheel is 17.25 inches and is magnificient. Have you or the previous owner reupholsered the car? On isssie is some times they make the seats too thick. When I compare my seats to factory photos mine look to be two inches higher under the front edge of the seat. The other thing you can do for leg room is move the seat back physically there are mounting holes that move th seat close to three inches either fore or aft.
The original 2956 Sky Hawk seat was non-existant. When I bought the car in 2001 it had Ford Escort buckets and it had been sitting in a barn.
When I heard about the issues people were having (IE to have to do "The Studebaker Slouch", and lean against the door panel) just to steer the car, I became wary. When I actually got a bench, my head was sticking through what remained of the headliner, and the 18" President wheel wouldn't clear my legs. Massively uncomfortable. I didn't want to drive the car.
I retrofitted a set of GT hawk buckets, and modified the center seat plate (from a 1962 GT) to bolt down to the overdrive floorboards. Problem Solved!
The entire car has just been totally re-done in custom 2-tone tuck an roll (the real deal, no pleats), and I'm currently installing a set of seat recliners from a 1963 Wagonaire so I can lean back and enjoy the view.
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