[max 93]

Where can I have a steering wheel restored ? I found a place in CA but he quoted me $1000. Seems a bit pricey to me.

[tom s]

the clear 61-64 big car wheels are around $1300 now!Tom

[max 93]

This is for a black 68 firebird wheel

[1968firebird455]

Post some pictures. The 1968 Deluxe wheels didn't stand the test of time as well as we would have liked. $1000 does sound a little high for that style wheel but you know what they say about you get what you pay for!

[chiefpontiac66]

If you are going for an "everything as original" restoration, I agree with 1968firebird455, you will probably just have to pay the going rate to get a nice job done. If you just want a nice stock looking wheel for a somewhat reasonable price, you might look at the reproduction wood wheels. I put one in my 62 GP and even though it isn't what the car was born with, I think it looks pretty good.

[mtnbktrek]

Hey I was reading an article in a Pontiac rag last year and they were showing a DIY fix for the cracked wheel basically they removed the wheel,thoroughly cleaned it to get all grease and dirt off ( I'm going to use dawn dish soap), then they widened the smaller cracks and filled them with a 2 part epoxy like jbweld, then they sanded until super smooth and then put a coat of primer and black paint on..... I'm going to try this with my 68 wheel- its already screwed up looking all cracked so what can it hurt??

[max 93]

My wheel is so bad it is missing chunks in the hub area. The $1000 price I got was to recast it. I may just look for another wheel. I would be fine with a few small cracks

[mtnbktrek]

Yea I have a lot of cracks largest is nearly 1/4" most are around 1/16...
Wow cannt believe 1k for a steering wheel -no way I'd ever pay that, I'd cheap out on something close

[goatjunkie]

was talking to a guy at swapmeet who was selling some wheels that looked pretty good. He was using Marine Tex epoxy in the cracks then finish sanding them and a good paint job after that. I suspect it would be like plaster patching cracks in sheetrock, you would probably need to bevel the cracks, fill, sand etc. Might be something to try on your own if you have the patience. I suspect the prep work involved is what it would take to have it turn out decent.

[drtracer58]

http://www.hoosiertransamspecialists.com/ They might be able to help or point you in the right direction ??

[scld1354]

Pardon the newb question, but what does recasting a steering wheel involve?

[mike nixon]

If you're gonna use an epoxy type product you'll want one that expands and contracts at the same rate as the platic on the wheel.

Mike

[boater bill]

I restored my black deluxe 68 Firebird wheel recently. Here is the link in the 67-69 Firebird section.
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...steering+wheel
I initially tried to locate a better wheel but they were going over $200 for them on Ebay. So I bit the bullet and did it with Kitty hair, body filler and spot putty. It has been holding up pretty well so far. I sometimes get the thought to take it off and improve the finish just that much more.

[rexs73gto]

I've seen it done twice once on overhaulin' by chip foose & again on Gears with stacy david, they both used a very good quality of bond type material, one used the rage gold & I'm not sure about the other but if you go into a good automotive pait shop I'm sure they can get you the bondo type product that will work for you. The one that foose did was very nice & he also made it look like wood by using a ox/cetlen torch by turing the O'2 off & letting the black soot stuff come out & wiggle it around over the wheel & then covering it with clear to seal it in, He also had painted it a light brown before hand to make it look like a light wood then used the torch trick on it. The bondo will hold up because it will have less movement then if it was outside of the car. It takes time to form the wheel just right & sand it so it looks correct but it will cost a lot less then the $ 1000 quoted.

[mviker]

I used JB Weld on an old nasty steering wheel I had laying around just to see if it would work. It's off a 62, so I couldn't do anything with the clear part, but the solid color areas worked out great. The wheel was seriously cracked all around the hub and spokes. Looks fine now (Except the clear parts). Very solid now also where it wasn't before..

[topless lemans]

Wondering what type of paint everyone used to paint this? Did you put clear over it or just the paint? I have two sets of steering wheels and like to fix one set then switch them

[estokes-bonnie66]

I just did my 1957 wheel. bought a kit from eastwood. I think the key is the primer, they sent me SEM 39863 Plastic Adhesion Promoter. One week in AZ sun and still looks great. Highly recommend SEM, follow directions.

Ed S