I believe it is safe to say the old standby Grant steering wheel has been gripped by more hot rodders than any steering wheel ever made. From the early '60s to present day, from metalflake to riveted walnut rims, the three-spoke, nine-hole, plastic rim steering wheel remains a hot rod classic today.
And so when it came time to update the interior on our 1957 Ford Ranch Wagon the choice was clear, that huge original steering wheel would have to go and nothing could be more appropriate for our Y-block powered Tri-Five Ford (Yeah, Ford made cars in 1955,1956, and 1957, too!) dashboard than a classic Grant steering wheel. It would be the perfect timeless addition to the vintage Stewart-Warner gauges that fill the dashboard.
A quick look at the online Summit Racing catalog netted us just what we wanted, a traditional Grant Steering wheel with a hint of modern. Our 15-inch deep-dish wheel (4-1/8 inch) has brushed stainless spokes but employs the same chrome horn button we are all accustomed to seeing over the years.
We ordered the appropriate steering wheel adapter and after using a steering wheel puller the installation was a simple bolt-on. We popped the chrome horn button in place and while it may be traditional, being a true hot rodder we simply could not leave well enough alone. There had to be some way to add a custom touch to the horn button, and with our little mental wheels turning we soon found ourselves thumbing through the pages of the latest Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts catalog. And yes, there they were, just as we remembered them. Reproduction hubcap centers for the 1955 Ford full wheel cover. We placed an order for one hub cap center, and since we had no way of knowing if that center would fit the Grant horn button, we also ordered one 1955-56 body side Ford Medallion. Surely one of these would fit our horn button. As it turns out both of these medallions fit the horn button and both added a very nice vintage Ford flavor to the steering wheel. We particularly liked the bright red plastic hubcap center, and it ultimately was the piece that now graces our steering wheel. In the end we spent just over $100 for a one-of-a-kind steering wheel that blends classic Ford parts with a classic hot rod part, a combination and price that is hard to beat.
This story is really more about finding new uses for old car parts than it is about modifying a steering wheel. Grab your favorite parts catalog and just flip through it with an eye toward using a common part in an uncommon manner. The results of these small projects are both fun and rewarding.
The time-tested good looks of the Grant three-spoke steering wheel seems to fit perfectly with any hot rod. Our wheel is a slightly contemporary take on a classic with brushed stainless spokes.
In an effort to personalize the steering wheel we decided to combine two classics, the Grant horn button and some emblems from Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts. The red plastic is a 1955-56 Ford hubcap center, while the fender emblem from a 1955-56 Ford is on the right.
After applying some 3-inch masking tape to the horn button we carefully marked the two holes to mount the emblem to the horn button. Measure twice, drill once.
Simply bolt the reproduction fender emblem to the horn button and you have an instant custom steering wheel that is perfect for any vintage Ford.
Since we had two horn buttons (one from an old parts box) we used a hole saw to cut a large hole in the center of the horn button for the plastic hubcap emblem. Cut the hole slightly under size, then carefully file the opening with a half-round file.
The 1955-56 hubcap center emblem from Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts was then held in place some JB Weld to complete the all-new horn button. Prior to gluing the emblem in place we polished the old horn button with some fine steel wool and metal polish.
The same emblem treatment could be used on the original horn button for those of you running the stock steering wheel. Spending some time with your favorite parts catalog will net you a lot of similar ideas.
The finished Grant steering wheel with our very own custom horn button looks very traditional. A keen eye will notice the brushed steering wheel spokes go well with the Lokar shift knob while the Vintage Air controller blends into the dash perfectly.
