The Ford Barn

dan · 03-09-2025, 04:14 PM

The car is a 1929 Tudor.

I'm working my way through it and trying to put things back to stock. Thus far I've done the headlights, the wiring harness, and a few other odds and ends. Now I need advice about how to solve my current issue.

So, the car is a 1929, which means it should have the chrome horn button and light switch. But unfortunately, somewhere during its past life someone switched out the steering for a later model setup. I haven't taken the box completely apart, but it looks like a 1930 box and column, which means that the column is too long for the 1929 horn rod. The correct 1929 horn rod is about 1/4 inch too short to get it to work.

The "correct" thing to do would be to replace the whole works--steering box, column, rod/switch, etc. However, I'm not seeing an option at the usual suppliers to buy a rebuilt 1929 setup. And from my research it doesn't look like I can put a 1929 column on a 1930 box.

I'm looking for advice on which way to go next:

1. Replace the whole thing... buy a used 1929 setup, rebuild it, and install it. This is the way I'm leaning.

2. Create some sort of Franken-rod that uses the correct button and switch, but has the 1930-length rod so it works with the steering column that's on it.

3. Something else/better?

03-09-2025, 04:14 PM	#1
dan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 219	Steering column / horn rod mis-match The car is a 1929 Tudor. I'm working my way through it and trying to put things back to stock. Thus far I've done the headlights, the wiring harness, and a few other odds and ends. Now I need advice about how to solve my current issue. So, the car is a 1929, which means it should have the chrome horn button and light switch. But unfortunately, somewhere during its past life someone switched out the steering for a later model setup. I haven't taken the box completely apart, but it looks like a 1930 box and column, which means that the column is too long for the 1929 horn rod. The correct 1929 horn rod is about 1/4 inch too short to get it to work. The "correct" thing to do would be to replace the whole works--steering box, column, rod/switch, etc. However, I'm not seeing an option at the usual suppliers to buy a rebuilt 1929 setup. And from my research it doesn't look like I can put a 1929 column on a 1930 box. I'm looking for advice on which way to go next: 1. Replace the whole thing... buy a used 1929 setup, rebuild it, and install it. This is the way I'm leaning. 2. Create some sort of Franken-rod that uses the correct button and switch, but has the 1930-length rod so it works with the steering column that's on it. 3. Something else/better?