Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

raidmagic · 01-27-2018, 03:48 PM

Anyone here done this? I've got a wheel from a 60 Impala and would like to try to use it but it will need some attention. Anyone have tips for me? Seems like I can just sand and paint it but it does have some small hairline cracks I'd like to fix first. Also it should work in the truck, right? Truck is a 65 Thanks.

66C10LB · 01-27-2018, 04:54 PM

For my steering wheel, I opened up all of the cracks significantly, filled them with JB Weld for Plastics, then sanded (repeating as needed until smooth)

**mongocanfly** · 01-27-2018, 06:10 PM

eastwood makes a restoration kit as well....a guy in the 47-59 forum took 2 and built one...he used a 54 center and a camaro ring if i remember right.....turned out nice..

raidmagic · 01-27-2018, 07:57 PM

Did you use any special paint?

66C10LB · 01-28-2018, 01:39 AM

I'm a bit undecided on the final primer, and paint for the steering wheel, but many say that using the same epoxy primer/base/clear that you use for the truck body works fine for the steering wheel, so I think that is the way that I will go when the time comes (I have a lot to do yet before I get to that point).

**rideblue00** · 01-28-2018, 08:20 AM

66C10LB only thing i noticed using that paint, it had a tendancy to peel when scraped when i installed a suicide knob. It moved and messed up the paint and then it seemed to want to peel. Any paint will scratch, but mine seemed soft. I then put a small pc of leather under it. If i can remember, ill take a pic today.

theastronaut · 01-30-2018, 01:38 PM

PC-7 Epoxy from Ace Hardware works great to fill in the cracks. Use a dremel to gring the cracks out all the way to the metal core or else they'll come back.

I recently shrunk a '54 wheel down to 15" by swapping rims and used PC-7 to build up the missing areas over the welds, and to fill in the cracks. You can dip your fingertip in solvent and smooth out the epoxy before it cures so you don't have to do as much sanding. Don't overdo it with the solvent or the epoxy won't harden properly. Wear gloves!

I like to lightly sandblast the old paint off the wheel to get to a fresh base to prime/paint. That also gives the plastic a slight texture so the primer sticks better. I used SPI epoxy primer on this wheel and it grabbed hard to the plastic. The paint was PPG/Omni single stage urethane.

raidmagic · 01-30-2018, 01:59 PM

^^^^Looks great, nice job.

**The Rocknrod** · 01-30-2018, 05:38 PM

I wonder how they do the pearl?

01-27-2018, 03:48 PM	#1
raidmagic Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 426	Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel Anyone here done this? I've got a wheel from a 60 Impala and would like to try to use it but it will need some attention. Anyone have tips for me? Seems like I can just sand and paint it but it does have some small hairline cracks I'd like to fix first. Also it should work in the truck, right? Truck is a 65 Thanks.

01-27-2018, 04:54 PM	#2
66C10LB Registered User Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: West Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 204	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel For my steering wheel, I opened up all of the cracks significantly, filled them with JB Weld for Plastics, then sanded (repeating as needed until smooth) Attached Images

01-27-2018, 06:10 PM	#3
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,671	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel eastwood makes a restoration kit as well....a guy in the 47-59 forum took 2 and built one...he used a 54 center and a camaro ring if i remember right.....turned out nice.. __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

01-27-2018, 07:57 PM	#4
raidmagic Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 426	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel Did you use any special paint?

01-28-2018, 01:39 AM	#5
66C10LB Registered User Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: West Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 204	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel I'm a bit undecided on the final primer, and paint for the steering wheel, but many say that using the same epoxy primer/base/clear that you use for the truck body works fine for the steering wheel, so I think that is the way that I will go when the time comes (I have a lot to do yet before I get to that point).

01-28-2018, 08:20 AM	#6
rideblue00 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lambertville, MI Posts: 1,865	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel 66C10LB only thing i noticed using that paint, it had a tendancy to peel when scraped when i installed a suicide knob. It moved and messed up the paint and then it seemed to want to peel. Any paint will scratch, but mine seemed soft. I then put a small pc of leather under it. If i can remember, ill take a pic today.

01-30-2018, 01:38 PM	#7
theastronaut Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Anderson SC Posts: 3,901	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel PC-7 Epoxy from Ace Hardware works great to fill in the cracks. Use a dremel to gring the cracks out all the way to the metal core or else they'll come back. I recently shrunk a '54 wheel down to 15" by swapping rims and used PC-7 to build up the missing areas over the welds, and to fill in the cracks. You can dip your fingertip in solvent and smooth out the epoxy before it cures so you don't have to do as much sanding. Don't overdo it with the solvent or the epoxy won't harden properly. Wear gloves! I like to lightly sandblast the old paint off the wheel to get to a fresh base to prime/paint. That also gives the plastic a slight texture so the primer sticks better. I used SPI epoxy primer on this wheel and it grabbed hard to the plastic. The paint was PPG/Omni single stage urethane. __________________ Project Goldilocks '66 C10 Short Fleet BBW Build '65 C10 Highly Detailed Stock Restoration Thread '78 Camaro Targa Roof Build '55 International Metal/Body/Paint Work '66 F100 Full Rotisserie Restoration '40 Packard 120 Convertible Coupe Restoration How To Restore and Detail an Original Gauge Cluster How To Detail Sand Body Panels, Edges, Corners, Etc

01-30-2018, 01:59 PM	#8
raidmagic Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 426	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel ^^^^Looks great, nice job.

01-30-2018, 05:38 PM	#9
The Rocknrod Moderator Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: China Spring, TX Posts: 7,280	Re: Tips on restoring a factory steering wheel I wonder how they do the pearl? __________________ Master Chief, US Navy, Retired 1964 C10 Step-side Short Bed - In Progress 2009 2500HD Duramax LTZ 1948 GMC Panel 1956 Big Window Stepside 1953 5 Window Chevy Stepside 1932 Coupe New Seat Foam for Bench Seats?

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