We start with the '41 Pontiac wheel needing just the outer ring restored as the rest is in pretty good shape. We have 3 options, send out to a pro shop if you can afford the $1000 to $1400 price tag or "V" cut all the cracks, fill and sand sand sand sand forever OR replace just the outer ring with a new or better one. I chose to replace the outer ring but first had to find a donor which turned out to be a 1956 Chevy wheel as it best matched the spoke location and size I wanted. So off with the '41 outer ring and off with the center of the '56 wheel, now to marry the two together. Inside every wheel is a round steel ring, this is what we will weld the 3 Pontiac spokes to after clean up. Weld up, fill up and sand to shape. I use MarineTex for filler as it blends well and sand the same as the outer ring material. If you wet your finger you can spread the Marine Tex around to shape and save much sanding. Next is epoxy high build primer as many coats as it takes to make you happy! After high builds comes the base coat clear coat of your choice & color. Hopefully pic's will explain it better. This wheel will be heading to The Oz Rat in Australia, here's the build of his '32! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=389127
WOW! Pretty sweet work. That shot of the black wheel surprised me even though I knew it was coming. Excellent!
That was clever and resourceful - everything a HAMBer should be. Nice one! (One more tip filed way in my mental vault. Thanks)
It's not a total resto as the stainless will still need clean up and the center paint trim work will be left up to OZ Rat Jim. He will be able to detail and trim out to complement the rest of his build.................
I did the same thing with a DeSoto steering wheel once, and I also used a '56 Chevy steering wheel as a ring donor. Works out nice, sometimes there just isn't enough left of the outside ring of a wheel to patch it up.
Nice job! Sure is a great looking wheel, nothing like the "stylish" air-bag containers we have today .
One of the slickest tech type posts ever, very impressive and creative work. Nice application of two wheels and reducing diameter at the same time. I am tu-toning my 59 Ford wheel soon, hope it comes out as nice as your job. Thanx so much. ~sololobo~
Gee I just sold one last week on the HAMB...I bought the one below on the Bay...got it for $89..I'm going to do something like you did..it's a little large in diameter...I'm going to see how it looks once I get the column in..I was told it was a Chevy 36 wheel..
I just finished the same restoration on my 51 vicky wheel and it turned out pretty nice..not that hard really just a lot patience and hard work.. Your's turned out very nice..good job
I saw this Wheel advertised on the Hamb by Brigat (Lon) and I knew I just had to have. Never did I think it would have turned out as nice as it did. Looking forward to receiving it now & making it fit on my Steering Shaft. I may look at painting the centre piece in the Dash color, but that will be determined much later on. Thanks so much for your great work Lon..... you are the master of improvisation.
Excellent job! Timely, too, since I am planning on reducing the diameter on one of my steering wheels and was wondering how I would go about it. Thanks for saving my tail!
Thanks for sharing with us! Beautiful work too. This is what anyone can do if they purchase a steering wheel rebuild kit. All it takes is time, a few basic tools and patience. Those kits are available from many restoration parts vendors. Normbc9
Excellent idea and execution. Please keep us posted as to how it wears and if the marinetex holds without cracking.
It arrived today... all the way from Washington State to Melbourne, Australia. It really looks so much better up close, the repair is seemless. The pictures do not do the workmanship justice. Now the long wait to get it on the Deuce.
From the first post "I use MarineTex for filler as it blends well and sand the same as the outer ring material. If you wet your finger you can spread the Marine Tex around to shape and save much sanding. Next is epoxy high build primer as many coats as it takes to make you happy! After high builds comes the base coat clear coat of your choice & color." Others have there own favorite fillers that may or may not work as well....................
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