47-55.1 Steering wheel re-size

[JDarby]

Has anyone taken there stock steering wheel and reduced the size to 13"?

[leegreen]

not personally but thinking about it. others have

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=457422

somewhere there is a older thread where the person used a plywood jig to help get the shape right and hold the parts - I can't find it. it appeared that he cut the rim into three sections, re-radiused them and welded back then filled/reshaped with epoxy

A recent thread somewhat related in that it involves mods to wheel
https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...d.php?t=848994

[fauXGT]

13". wow.
Most of us have done 15". 13" sounds like chrome chain size.

[JDarby]

hahahhahahaha.....not a Low rider!

So Sorry meant 15" or anything less than stock radius!

I have a 55.1' GMC and would like to retain my original center cap and I have always liked the finger grooves in the originals!

[mr48chev]

`Now you have me wondering if I kept the wheel I took out of the 51 donor cab.

I'm thinking that the one I saw and it may have been a HAMB tech article used a smaller hoop welded to the spokes and they routered grooves in the plywood or mfd board to make a mold to pour the resin in to mold the wheel.

The big problem with AD truck wheels and probably the 53 BelAir wheel I have saved back for my 48 is the bakelite that the wheel is made of to begin with. That stuff gets brittle and does't play well with other materials.

[fauXGT]

Before I worked on my wheel, I did a ton of research.
When fixing cracks, not just open up the finite cracks but under-cut an inverted v into the wheel then pour or jamb the epoxy. That way the filler wont 'pop' out. I wore a respirator while cutting, grinding and sanding, being the center seemed a bit dry powdery or fiberus. Wasn't sure if it might contain asbestos, which alot of bakelite objects did. I used stick form Polywater and J-B weld epoxies. Made molds for pouring with very heavy aluminum tape that has a sticky side. The rim was a 2 spoke Lecarra from Speedway. Hours and hours of sanding.

[leegreen]

Is it possible to cut the AD rim into 3 or 4 sections and tighten the radius of each section?
This is what I saw in a post somewhere, but the pictures did not really show the process well. The final result looked good in the one picture but I could not tell if it was a true circle or a 'clover' shape. I have concerns that trying to bend it might break the Bakelite off

you could make a silicon mold of a section of the AD rim with the finger grooves and use it to recast the rim with epoxy at the welded spots. Smooth-on is a brand commonly used by model makers

[fauXGT]

I tried using the mold method but the transition from rim to spoke you had to make was a PITA. You are dealing with 3 different transitions on a new rim to an old spoke. If it was old to old, the mold method for a transition would be easy with minimal cleanup on mold before casting. Mine leaked out J B weld.
But on just a rim repair pour, that would be easy.
Had to cut back enough bakelite to weld, then fill back in. have about 30 hours in, not counting the hurry up and wait for the goop to harden.

[JDarby]

This is the subject at hand!

I've always liked how my hand fits on the center piece,
and would like to keep as much of that a possible to have a 15" wheel.

This Wheel has a very nice GMC center circle!

Someone make's a Chevrolet flat top circle center piece 15" wheel that looks real nice but I'd lose my GMC center circle so I'm out on that one.

There are a lot of really nice wheels out on the market and I am
just trying to weigh all my options out.

My IDIDIT column should be here any day now,
it's been months since I ordered it!

[Dan in Pasadena]

If you're willing to spend the money there is at least one company that is already making them in a smaller diameter and will color them anyway you want INCLUDING clear with color! I'll post a couple example photos from their site and link below:

https://qualityrestorations.com/chevyreduced-diameter/

[unclebrad]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

If you're willing to spend the money there is at least one company that is already making them in a smaller diameter and will color them anyway you want INCLUDING clear with color! I'll post a couple example photos from their site and link below:

https://qualityrestorations.com/chevyreduced-diameter/

Beautiful!

I like the idea of doing one myself but no matter how much time I put into it, I doubt I would ever get to that level of quality.

[unclebrad]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

If you're willing to spend the money there is at least one company that is already making them in a smaller diameter and will color them anyway you want INCLUDING clear with color! I'll post a couple example photos from their site and link below:

https://qualityrestorations.com/chevyreduced-diameter/

If one WAS willing to spend the money, do you have any idea of just how much money one would spend for one of those?

[JDarby]

I just put a request in on pricing and lead time, I will let you know what I am told when I hear back.

Those sure are some beautiful looking wheels!!!

[JDarby]

Here is what Dennisqualityrestorations.gmail said:

single color with lifetime warranty $2900.00
these are not painted but solid color wheels
for the continental us there is a return shipping charge
of $75-$125 with insurance of $3200.00

For the 2 color cast wheels add $700 for the 2nd color

8-10 week turn around!

Wheels can be modified to fit GM style aftermarket columns
such as Flaming River and IDIDIT add $200

I will say his wheels look amazing to me!!
I love the 2 tone GMC wheel and would love one in my colors

[unclebrad]

Yes, they do look amazing.

That's a big price tag for improvement but I'm thinking I would go that route before attempting the DIY route. (When I take on a new project, it usually takes three times as long and costs three times the money, and it rarely turns out exactly as I had wanted.)

[jwilson645]

Speedway has the 47-54 in a 15".

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/47-54...5-b942a09c90ea

[jweb]

Originally Posted by jwilson645

Speedway has the 47-54 in a 15".

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/47-54...5-b942a09c90ea

I bought one of these and I'm not impressed.

There are sharp edges where the two halves of the mold were put together. Also, the finish is really dull not the the glossy stock size reproduction I bought years ago.

If you have an Ididit column these wont work, The steering wheel has no dish to it so it's right up against the turn signal.

Unfortunately I waited too long or I would have sent it back. Now I have a $200 paper weight.

[mick53]

I have a 53 3100. I shortened my column tube and shaft I think 3 or 4 inches so I could use the 57-59 dished wheel and the cool integrated turn signal switch. I restored one wheel but I have another unrestored wheel to try with. I paid less than $20 for it. I'm now adding EPAS Performance electric P/S and a 1.5 steering quickener. A smaller wheel would be nice. I'm going to give it a shot. I have the tools we'll see about the talent. It's a pretty simple wheel. I could probably mold a red band at the top center. When I restored the first wheel I used the P something epoxy and it went well.

[unclebrad]

Originally Posted by mick53

I have a 53 3100. I shortened my column tube and shaft I think 3 or 4 inches so I could use the 57-59 dished wheel and the cool integrated turn signal switch. I restored one wheel but I have another unrestored wheel to try with. I paid less than $20 for it. I'm now adding EPAS Performance electric P/S and a 1.5 steering quickener. A smaller wheel would be nice. I'm going to give it a shot. I have the tools we'll see about the talent. It's a pretty simple wheel. I could probably mold a red band at the top center. When I restored the first wheel I used the P something epoxy and it went well.

If you take pictures along the way, I'd love to follow your progress.

[mick53]

Originally Posted by unclebrad

If you take pictures along the way, I'd love to follow your progress.

I'll head to the junkyard next week to look for a doner ring.

[JDarby]

Any progress on the Donor wheel?

[mick53]

Originally Posted by JDarby

Any progress on the Donor wheel?

I was out of state for a while. My life is like a fart in a whirlwind. Next week looks good at this point.

[vintovka]

I like the Repop with the finger grooves and but cannot see a price.

[mick53]

On my 53 3100 I decided to go with a 57 to 60 Chevy truck steering wheel so I could get the nice self canceling turn signal switch that I could put my cruise control turn signal switch on. I also don't like the golf cart looking switch. I shortened my column and shaft to make up for the dished wheel. I have already restored a 57 wheel but now that I have EPAS Performance electric power steering I wanted a smaller wheel. I know it's not the right wheel for the truck but I still like the Chevy center. I bought another unrestored 57 wheel a couple of years ago for $20 and after a couple of days searching I found it. I live in rural northern Indiana. We don't have corporate junkyards around here but a lot of old 80ish acre yards. So with my cordless Sawzall and machete I headed out. I was just going to hack the ring off. I'm 67 and it was 95 degrees and humid. The bad news is the old vehicles are in the back but the good news it's in the shade of the woods. It amazed me how many steering wheels were missing. The owner agreed that people are after the turn signal mechs and just throw the wheel on the ground where it goes back to mother earth. Don't be that guy. After an hour and a half I found this one in the bed of an old truck. It's 15 1/2" and a Chrysler product. It was hard to find a small wheel that was plain and not larger diameter or padded. Maybe it will work out maybe it won't. By the time I got back to the yard office and ask him what I owed him he said "just take it you earned it". I notched the rods with a 1/4" burr and TIG welded them on. I sprayed some white primer on the wheel and it is nowhere near flat so let the blocking begin.

[mick53]

More pictures.