Steering Wheel Restoration?

[Clunker]

When I bought my 1970 F250, the instrument panel and steering wheel had been replaced with aftermarket stuff. While the newer steering wheel has a nicer feel to it, I prefer the classic styling of the stock steering wheel, and it was included with the purchase. Other than having 40 years of wear and having a small crack, it is in great shape, and I was wondering if anyone has tried to restore a stock steering wheel. Can it be painted? If so, what kind of paint would you use that won't chip or look cheap? Any other ideas?

[stephen44]

this is a pretty good tutorial - theer is a part 1 & 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIEM7r_BRw0 part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EzPmNyoSws part 2

Hope this gives you some ideas

[colnago]

I'm in the process of repairing my stock steering wheel with the Eastwood kit. The spokes are cracked at the hub. The spokes are cracked at the rim. The rim probably has a dozen cracks; it even has one along the rim about 6" long. It's in horrible condition, but I am determined to make it work for the next 45 years. The repair work is slow, because the kit is so slow to set up and harden, so I need a weekend where I know I'm not going to use it before I pull the wheel. The kit does harden like rock, though, so I have no reservation about it outlasting the rest of the wheel. After the patch job, I figured I would go to an auto body shop and ask them what kind of paint to use.

Joseph

[abe]

Maybe this will help. I have a 1970 steering wheel listed on ebay right now. It has 2 little cracks on the back side of the hub, not visible when the wheel is mounted. All it would need is painted or use it as is.

Here is the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190812493511?ss ... 1555.l2649

[vwfreak]

You should be able to find an auto paint supplier locally that can mix up a spray can of your column color. I needed Holly Green and got it mixed at a Sherwin Wms automotive paint shop locally. Cost was about $22 and I guarantee a paint shop won't do it that cheaply. Know what color your interior paint is?

[chad67]

My dad owned a bodyshop for years and a guy brought in a bullet nose Studebaker for us to restore. The owner was retired and would come and visit/help quite a bit. We learned that he worked as a designer for Studebaker and later for GM. He bought the Stude because he was the one who built the clay model of the bullet nose in their design shop. He brought in his own material and filled about a thousand cracks in his wheel and shaped it with small files and sandpaper. We painted it with automotive urethane and I saw it several times over the next few years and it looked great. Whatever paint you use make sure it won't be broken down by the oils in your skin. Two-part urethane is one of the most chemical resistant paints around.