VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Installation of a 48 Banjo steering wheel

Does any one have an installation manual..The design of the stock and banjo wheels are somewhat different???I thought they would be a simple swap

As I recall it is a simple swap. The big spring goes on over the steering column shaft. The banjo wheel sits on top of that. Tighten down nut.

I think I am worried more about horn contact?There is no adjustment on the bottom of the Banjo

The horn contact that goes through the steering wheel hub is spring loaded and seems to be all the adjustment that is needed.

Dale,My stock 48 steering wheel does not have this spring loaded contact,just a metal plate that makes contact to the mast when you push down on the horn ring.So I need to add this to the banjo wheel?Is the banjo horn ring held in place with the steering shaft nut.I see no way to attach it to the wheel itself

The hole in the steering wheel hub at the 6 o'clock position is where the horn contact goes. It's a plastic piece with a spring in the middle to load the contacts on either end. The steering shaft nut holds down the 3 inch diamter piece with rubber insulators that holds down the horn ring to the steering wheel hub. This 3 inch diameter piece comes with the repro horn rings. Of course there is also the rubber insulator that goes in the hub around the horn ring. Chevs of the 40s sells those (P/N 755904). The horn contact they sell doesn't appear to fit a '48.

Dale I have the rubber insulator but I guess I'm in trouble if I can't get the contact piece,I can see it,it is broken off in the hole and need to punch it out.I guess I will call chev's of the 40's about the missing part I need..Its a nice looking wheel but no good without a horn,thank you for the good info

Push the contact up through the top. If it's intact, there is a lip on the top part of the contact that seats it in the hub, so it won't push out through the bottom.

A lot of people run banjo wheels. Wonder where they get their horn contacts? Hopefully, someone will chime in with a source. I've only seen one for sale at Hershey that I bought for my wheel probably 10 years ago. Never seen anyone advertise them.

Heres the parts I have,what am I missing?



Here's a pic of the broken off-missing grounding contact



Here's a pic from some other guys wheel with the inter rubber gasket which I also do not have(should I make it and what does it look like?).I only have the one that came with the horn ring,which fit towards the outer part of the ring and has the big tabs which align with with the wheel hub



I Think This is what the ground contact should look like??

Yes - that's what the horn contact looks like. The plastic is 1 and 5/16" long. 1/2" O.D. at the top and about 3/8" O.D. where it goes through the hub.
Yes - you need the inner rubber that goes around that 3" diameter piece in addition to the big rubber piece with the 3 tabs. I have a used one of those 3" things that has the inner rubber still on it. Very hard rubber, but it's complete. You can have this used one if you're interested. The repro horn rings have all new rubber, so I don't need this one. Looks like you're lucky enough to have an original horn ring.

Thanks Dale I sent you a PM

I'm pretty sure COT40's has the horn contact. #759037. at least it looks the same.

Isn't that photo of the horn contact that's on Ebay ($10)...? Thought I'd seen it before, I didn't know it was for the "banjo"...

But the Chevs of the 40s description of that contact (759037) says it fits 49-57 cars. Not sure if the length is different or what but they don't say it fits a 48 car. Bad description??

Hi Dale. I thought the pic Bruce posted looked familiar so I went and looked through my left over parts box and found that part still in the plastic bag. It says 759037- fits 47-57 horn button contact with spring. That is what I was going by. Maybe the key word is "button". The plastic on it is only 1 & 1/8". Over all is 1 & 5/8". The other measurements are the same as you gave.

BTW, I'm glade to see your return.

I bought this one 6 or 7 years ago
OK, Dale is right. I just opened the package and their was a card inside that says, fits 47-66 Chevy/GMC truck, and 49-66 full size passenger cars.
My Bad. Should have opened BEFORE I said anything

We just got back from the Early 6 Cylinder Tour in London, Ontario. Great weather and had a great time.

I'm not sure what the difference is, but in the Chevrolet Parts Book (1929-53), it says that the 759037 contact is only for 53 cars. They list a 757009 for 49-52 cars. They list a separate contact for 42-48 banjo wheels. Maybe they're close enough to work? For some reason, Chevs of the 40s only says it fits back to 49.

I see from your edit above that it looks like it won't work for the 42-48 application. Too bad. It would be nice if they had one that fit.

Well, the photo's all look the same...But, it says contact button for '42-'50 Chevrolet Passenger cars $9.99/ Free Shipping...Item # 380440287840 No mention of "banjo"...But, I know it's not used on my horn...I'm running with the "stock" wheel...

The Pic of the contact button is the one from chevs of the 40s.kevin you have a good eye,I did purchase one those you saw on e-bay,basicly to see if it will fit and if not will use Dales measurements to see if I can modify it to work.Not a lot of choices here

Chef-Chevy,
How did the horn button installation go? Did the contact button from Chevs-of-the-40s fit your steering wheel? (I'm going through the same thing with the Banjo wheel on my 47 StyleMaster).
John W.

John I found an original horn contact for the Banjo but think the COT40s one will work,it does fit alittle more snug but it apears the contact points are about the same distance.I would give it a try,I did have to bend the wheel contact a bit to get the horn to blow but all is good now