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Steering wheel restoration
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57Groucho
Posted 2015-04-15 12:52 PM (#475556)
Subject: Steering wheel restoration



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Posts: 127
10025
Location: Minneapolis		How far gone can a steering wheel be before it's beyond restoring? I have one for my '57 Flite that's basically just the steel above the molded grips at the half way point. Just wondering if I should buy another less cracked up steering wheel or save my money and put it toward the restoration of the one I have.
As always, thanks for the help and guidance in my restoration.
-Dan
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-04-15 1:05 PM (#475559 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: RE: Steering wheel restoration



Expert 5K+

Posts: 9650
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Location: So. Cal		There are 2 approaches to steering wheel restoration. Fill and fix what you have or re-mold it with new material. For remolding, you can make it work for any condition wheel as long as the metal is sound. For fixing what you have, the worse condition it is, the more work it will require to make it work well. But with patience and careful sanding, you can make it work. I recommend using fiberglass-filled bondo, called Duraglass. It is less likely to re-crack and is much stronger than regular bondo. You can apply a thin layer of bondo on the top of it if your texture ends up being a little rough. Of course, re-molding will look better in the end, but is quite expensive. Here is a thread on how I fixed my wheel.

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=48804&...
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57Groucho
Posted 2015-04-16 12:00 PM (#475670 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



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Posts: 127
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Location: Minneapolis		Thank you sir.
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Mike McCandless
Posted 2015-04-16 12:28 PM (#475676 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration


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Posts: 1886
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http://www.stwheelz.com/

He has done 5 steering wheels for me and all of them have been perfect. I sent some NASTY stuff to him and it came back amazing. Tell him I sent you, you won't be disappointed
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57Groucho
Posted 2015-04-16 12:34 PM (#475678 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



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Posts: 127
10025
Location: Minneapolis		Right on, I'll check it out? How much did you pay to get your nasty did fixed up? If you don't mind me asking.
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Mike McCandless
Posted 2015-04-16 2:41 PM (#475691 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration


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Posts: 1886
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Each steering wheel is so different. I can say that I haven't seen a big difference in cost regardless of the condition I sent. Take some pictures and shoot them to him. His name is Doug.
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57Groucho
Posted 2015-04-16 2:49 PM (#475693 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



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Posts: 127
10025
Location: Minneapolis		Will do, thanks
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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-16 11:52 PM (#475741 - in reply to #475693)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca		One thing (the most important thing, really) about steering wheel repairs and restorations:

The steering wheel's condition will be the FIRST thing that you will experience when you get into
your ride....and, it will, immediately, present itself as being representative of your attention to
restoration detail (if done poorly).

It may not be 'fair' (what is?), but an amateurly restored wheel is obvious, to an observer, and a major turn-off,
on a multi-buk 'restoration'.






(WA0614-185501_4.jpg)



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Attachments WA0614-185501_4.jpg (72KB - 81 downloads)
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Adventurer 60
Posted 2015-04-17 5:58 AM (#475759 - in reply to #475741)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



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Posts: 827
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Location: tailFinland
d500neil - 2015-04-16 11:52 PM

One thing (the most important thing, really) about steering wheel repairs and restorations:

The steering wheel's condition will be the FIRST thing that you will experience when you get into
your ride....and, it will, immediately, present itself as being representative of your attention to
restoration detail (if done poorly).

It may not be 'fair' (what is?), but an amateurly restored wheel is obvious, to an observer, and a major turn-off,
on a multi-buk 'restoration'.




I totally agree that. This 1961 Chrysler steering wheel was beyond DIY restoration (they all are if clear plastic is cracked)
this one was totally gone. There were nothing left of the clear sections, gray plastic was cracked badly, frame was rusted.

I gave it to professional steering wheel restorer. It was chromed and recasted.
Result is really awsome! sure it was pricey but to me it is worth all that money.
This is how the restored steering wheel should look like. It invites you to touch it.



(ratt.jpg)



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Attachments ratt.jpg (213KB - 81 downloads)
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57Groucho
Posted 2015-04-17 9:00 AM (#475764 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



Veteran

Posts: 127
10025
Location: Minneapolis		That's a very good point you bring up Neil and Adventurer60. My plan really was always to have it professionally restored, I was just wondering if it would be worth it to buy another wheel that is in better condition as a starting point for the restorer. It sounds like it's not going to matter much so I'll save that money and put it toward the restoration. Now- do you guys have any recommendations on where I should take it? I'll definitely check with Doug/Stwheelz, thanks for the suggestion Mike, I just want to do my homework.
By the way, those wheels came out beautifully Neil and Adventurer60!

Edited by 57Groucho 2015-04-17 9:03 AM
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ToMopar
Posted 2015-04-20 6:44 AM (#476077 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



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Posts: 1157
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Location: D-70199 Heslach		Hey Jari and Neil,

Has DIY restoration any webside ?
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ToMopar
Posted 2015-04-20 6:51 AM (#476078 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



Elite Veteran

Posts: 1157
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Location: D-70199 Heslach		By the way,

here is an report of how to restore by Doug (http://www.stwheelz.com)
http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/interior-electrical/1407-restoring-fac...
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stwheels
Posted 2015-04-25 2:31 AM (#476564 - in reply to #476078)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration


Member

Posts: 6

Location: Edmonton/Alberta/Canada

Hi everyone! Thanks for the plug Mike, I've had a blast working with you on the wheels for your awesome cars.

Thanks to Tom also for posting the link to the Mopar Muscle Magazine article that was published about my business last July.

This is a link to my "The Steering Wheel Guy" Face Book page where there are hundreds of pictures (from start to finish) of wheels I've worked on. https://www.facebook.com/TheSteeringWheelGuy



Doug Lepak
The Steering Wheel Guy
8449-14 ave
Edmonton, AB
Canada
T6K1X3
GST# 843045477
780-450-1397
stwheels@shaw.ca
web site: www.stwheelz.com
FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Steering-Wheel-Guy/200617011737?ref=hl


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springsweptwing
Posted 2015-04-25 8:43 AM (#476572 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: RE: Steering wheel restoration



Elite Veteran

Posts: 1141
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Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom.		would a original wheel be uniform in color, as mine looks to have a marble effect to it?
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stwheels
Posted 2015-04-25 3:18 PM (#476594 - in reply to #476572)
Subject: RE: Steering wheel restoration


Member

Posts: 6

Location: Edmonton/Alberta/Canada

springsweptwing - 2015-04-25 6:43 AM

would a original wheel be uniform in color, as mine looks to have a marble effect to it?


Yes some wheels have a marbled look to them and that can be duplicated ... can you post a close-up shot of your wheel?

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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-25 7:11 PM (#476608 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: RE: Steering wheel restoration



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca		Paul, this is not a Regal Lancer steering wheel, but it is a surviving
57-58 Dodge wheel, that I've had for around 30 years, now.

The horn ring completely covers the middle area of the steering wheel.

Pretty, huh?

That round feature, on its rear-perimeter, is the wheel's casting-fill mark.

Compare the appearance of this OEM wheel, with the blue-painted wheel, above.











Edited by d500neil 2015-04-25 7:45 PM




(PICT4197.JPG)



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(PICT4210.JPG)



(PICT4211.JPG)



(PICT4215.JPG)



(PICT4216.JPG)



(PICT4217.JPG)



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Attachments PICT4210.JPG (161KB - 90 downloads)
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Attachments PICT4215.JPG (163KB - 87 downloads)
Attachments PICT4216.JPG (160KB - 84 downloads)
Attachments PICT4217.JPG (148KB - 76 downloads)
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springsweptwing
Posted 2015-04-25 10:21 PM (#476622 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: RE: Steering wheel restoration



Elite Veteran

Posts: 1141
100010025
Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom.		You can see the marble effect here



(wheel2.JPG)



(wheel3.JPG)



(wheel5.JPG)



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Attachments wheel2.JPG (48KB - 84 downloads)
Attachments wheel3.JPG (61KB - 80 downloads)
Attachments wheel5.JPG (46KB - 86 downloads)
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LD3 Greg
Posted 2015-04-25 11:21 PM (#476627 - in reply to #476622)
Subject: RE: Steering wheel restoration


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Location: Ontario, Canada		Hi Paul,
You have captured my interest. Normally, I wouldn't give a hoot about a steering wheel. Any pics of my car would demonstrate that. My original plastic wheel was toast and I probably just tossed it in the scrap bucket. I'm sure I just grabbed a scrap solid cheap series wheel off my shelf and spray can painted half copper and the other half black!!! No big deal. I couldn't have cared less!!

But, if you have enough pics of a correct Regal wheel to detail it so that this guy in Edmonton can make a CORRECT one for me, I'll probably go for it. Maybe we can get a deal on two at once! Like I said, I'm interested!

Greg
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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-26 1:26 PM (#476684 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca		Paul/Greg; if you are able to consumate an agreement to re-pop Regal Lancer steering wheels (with a multi-
piece wholesale discount involved, between you two)....there ought to be a profitable market for the creation of at least several of them.

Correctly created steering wheels do not go down in value, and : "available for immediate delivery"
is a major sales incentive, on almost anything!




Edited by d500neil 2015-04-26 1:31 PM
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ttotired
Posted 2015-04-29 5:57 PM (#476965 - in reply to #475556)
Subject: Re: Steering wheel restoration



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Location: Perth Australia		I thought the aero wheels were expencive (they are), but check this one out for $3000(not fl, but its on topic)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Oldsmobile-Steering-wheel-clock-restor...





($_57.JPG)



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