Hot Rods Thoughts on a leather wrapped steering wheel in a nostalgic hotrod.

On my T roadster project I took the ring off a banjo wheel and used a smaller ring to fit in the confine’s of the T ****pit. I’ve been body working the ring where I cut it so I could weld the banjo spokes to it. I have a feeling at some point the wheel will crack where the work will be done. It got me to thinking if it were wrapped in leather a guy would never see any cracks. I have a good friend that is a master leather worker so getting it done wouldn’t be a big deal.
What’s you guys thoughts?

 

Sounds like a plan.
No harm in trying

 

If you like that? Do it, its your car.

 

I like the look on the early English cars

 

Here is one for inspiration - I had the same concerns as you. I cut down the wheel to 15", repaired it and bought the leather cover from ebay for about $20. My wife did the s***ching job.

 

Very nice! I might have to really think about this.

 

That’s the truth, I guess I’m trying for an easy out.

 

You're already thinking about it, just go ahead and do it. Aesthetically won't hurt a thing. 99 44/100 % of people will never notice.

 

It’s all good advice. Your car, and it depends on the other parts of the build. If it’s a street rod T, ok. “Nostalgic” doesn’t quite define it for me (my fault). If it’s a traditional build, maybe a cord wrapping. It’s more of a vintage sports car deal, but you might something that works. Or friction tape like used to be used on Bell wheels.

 

Wrap the wheel with rope, that's traditional.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/string-wrapping-a-steering-wheel.576060/

 

As much as it pains me to agree with Mark , I must. It is luxurious, stylish and sporty, if that matches your car you may have a street rod on your hands. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Just make sure the wheel matches the vehicle.

 

It's wrapping with a heavy string or cord and not a rope, but yes it was done on some cars - I think mainly race cars, to provide good grip. There are several other threads discussing it on the HAMB besides the link above.

 

Plus three on a cordage wrap.

 

Modern two part epoxies should hold up well to patch your wheel. It can easily be sanded, painted.
I know you like to drive your cars, leather, rope, cord, etc wont be easy to keep clean.
Just my opinion...

 

There’s an old guy in my neighborhood that has a 8 n Ford . The plastic on the steering wheel got bad . So he wrapped it with a 3/8” rope then soaked it with fibergl*** rosin . It is easier for him to grip and is very durable.

 

IMHO, go for it! A few considerations here...
Can you patch the wheel surface so it will last as well as the original part of the wheel, and how closely can you match the surface/ridges of the original? Can you EASILY get a good paint job on the entire wheel?
Are you going to dive this beast or just display it for the viewing pleasure of those who will nit-pick it to death?
Since it's YOURS, do you really give a flying f%#k what I (or others) think?
In addition to covering any repairs you have to make, the leather wrap will make the wheel rim slightly larger in diameter which might provide a more comfortable grip for you. I sure don't see a downside to it!

 

Whatever you do, don't wrap it in cord or rope. Thinking I was being cool, I did that on a car once and the results were very embarr***ing. I got blisters from rope burn and had to go to expensive European driving gloves. Very out of place in a '50 Ford 4 door.

 

This is the wheel that I will be using. The ring is wood so that might throw a curve into the mix.

 

That totally depends on the style of the wheel, and the wrap. Leather wrapped wheels can look appropriate, and a huge wheel in a tiny car that doesn't need one looks pretty goofy too...

 

That looks right. A leather wrap on that will look great.

 

Screw the restorers. If you want leather, do it.

 

I've worked on some of the finest prewar cars in history, I've seen countless vintage rod and race cars. I've never seen a "padded" steering wheel of any kind. At best I've seen tape and cord, never wrapped. Later on in a burgeoning hot rod industry we got to see the iconic 3 spoke Cal Custom, in wood or vinyl flake, but those were more a 60s flavor, and usually accompanied by knee knocker gauges and 5 spoke mag wheels. My opinion, FWIW.

 

Ok we can put this to sleep. I’ll figure out what to do with the wheel after a few other tasks that need to be done.

 

LOL! How the eff did you get rope burns? That's funny. I've been driving my 47 with the rope wrapped wheel for a couple of years now, it's very comfortable on the hands, nicer than a bare wheel, and never once came close to burning my hands. I can't imagine how the wheel would have to slide through your hands to burn them.

 

My rope wrapped wheel has been this way for 12 years now. I did it because I wanted the thin OD of the wheel to be larger and fit my hands better. It just felt so thin on the diameter that I had trouble grasping the tiny diameter.
Never had any rope burns, nor has it ever felt uncomfortable to me.

 

Hey, Rusty;
1st thing I thought of was: wood(over-lay/surround). Like the older wheels from the teens. Then I saw the pic & that it is already some sorta wood. I don't think the Cobra-steering-wheel-version would look quite right on a T-roadster(w/copper or br*** rivets thru flat-topped section. It wouldn't look bad, either but...). I'm thinking of a thicker wood wheel, done in sections(maybe 6?, not like a big circle cut from a very large piece) that are finger-jointed together. Wheel thickness could be near-any that feels good to your hands, limited only by the current steel-wheel-ring-thickness. It would be slightly harder to do than the teens-types, as they were solid(& used simple screws to hold the wood-ring to the "spider"), & since yours has a steel core, the pieces would have to be split n hollowed out before gluing together. Can have - or not - finger grooves on the backside & they could be varying depth. The wood could be fancy, but most back then weren't. For a finish, rather than varnish or urethane, I'm thinking tung-oil or a good gunstock oil(Birchwood Casey comes to mind). Should give a nice finish. & since it's an early car anyways... .
Marcus...

 

That^^^^^ looks great.

I didn't think your idea was too far out there. It actually makes sense plus leather feels good it the hand. You are a good craftsman and tend to make everything look good.

 

I think cracked steering wheels are very traditional, not perfect, but traditional!
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