'67 steering wheel restore

[fireflyr]

I'm just starting the process of restoring the stock steering wheel on my '67. It hadn't been a priority and I had toyed with the idea of replacing it with a new wheel, but I couldn't find one with the same diameter (I still have manual steering, and will ALWAYS have unboosted steering). I don't want a modern looking steering wheel and the used ones I could afford were in the same condition. Not that I looked that hard.

Ofcourse I didn't take any pictures before I started
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The center hub was severely cracked, all the way to the metal core and the rim was cracked with gaps in 4 places.

Since the hub was so distorted (even with filler it was uneven) I decided to take the material down so I had a symetrical center. I then used 3 layers of 6 oz. fiberglass cloth and resin to build it up to the original diameter. I overlapped the cloth and brought it around the spokes so it would give the wheel more rigidity. Lots of sanding has brought it pretty close to the original shape. Once the shape was good I gave it a couple coats of wood flour thickened 2 part marine epoxy. I've used this stuff for years in building mahogony kayaks, and although it is a mess to deal with it is as hard as nails.

On the rim I had originally filled the gaps with a 2 part epoxy putty from Eastwoods but I found that it wouldn't stick to the original bakelite material. I ground it out and widened the gaps with a Dremel and at the same time roughed up the surrounding material to give the epoxy something to stick to. I then made a mold with thick black tape reinforced with zip ties so the unthickened epoxy wouldn't run out. That's about as far as I've gotten but I plan to sand and use filler to fill the small voids and then prime, sand, prime and paint.

[URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb011.jpg"][/URL]

[URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb006.jpg"][URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb006.jpg"][/URL][/URL]


[URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb008.jpg"][URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb008.jpg"][/URL][/URL]

[URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb009.jpg"][URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb009.jpg"][/URL][/URL]

[URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb010.jpg"][URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb010.jpg"][/URL][/URL]

[URL="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee191/fireflyr_photos/Landcruiser%20Restore/SteeringWheelRefirb015.jpg"][/URL]

 

[myquestoyota]

Cool, glad to see some "hands-on" ingenuity going on. Looks like you're on to something, keep us posted.

 

[cjgoode]

Good job, and thanks for sharing. Great ideas

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

 

[fireflyr]

Filled and sanded.





I used Rustoleum sandable primer (4 coats) so I could get plenty of material on the wheel because 90% of it gets sanded off.

Now this next part may rankle the purists but I chose Rustoleum Ultra Sage Green for the color. The vehicle is Dune Beige so I'm hoping it will give it that retro look.





3 coats of paint and one of clear.

 

[Degnol]

Excellent job! If you have any adherence issues with the paint, you may need to use an additive that they use to paint bumpers as I believe the rim is Vulcanite. Same thing they used to make bowling balls and denture bases. Bakelite is a phenolic resin...different animal. But I'm borrowing trouble, looks great!

 

[Tim71FJ40]

If I were to find a used steering wheel for my 10/70 would anyone be interested in doing the restoration for me? Some things I would rather pay for than mess up myself...

 

[fireflyr]

Excellent job! If you have any adherence issues with the paint, you may need to use an additive that they use to paint bumpers as I believe the rim is Vulcanite. Same thing they used to make bowling balls and denture bases. Bakelite is a phenolic resin...different animal. But I'm borrowing trouble, looks great!

Thanks for the info. This was an experiment so we'll have to wait and see. I roughed it up pretty well and the paint seems to be doing fine. Thanks again.

 

[fireflyr]

Excellent work. But I'd be willing to bet you'll want to go back to black.

I set it on the steering column this morning...

I think you may be right.

 

[Assassin]

retro---but painted it black!!!! fine job on the rebuild!!!!

 

[skidplate]

Great job! I've been thinking of doing similar. Will we get to see your beautiful cruiser at the Bakersfield rally in April? Info posted in the " events ' section.

 

[fireflyr]

Great job! I've been thinking of doing similar. Will we get to see your beautiful cruiser at the Bakersfield rally in April? Info posted in the " events ' section.

I'll be there Dave, save me a spot next to the Safari Wagon. I saw your paint job on another post - it looks great. I've got plenty of resin left so if you're thinking of repairing your wheel I'll put some in a couple baby jars and bring it along.

Pat

 

[fireflyr]

Okay, last pic, i'm done.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Love the look of the classic wheel excellent work

 

[kellyo]

Very nice work and impressive. Another project I will try in the future. Thanks for the write up.

 

[35snmud]

Awesome job. Thanks for sharing

 

[DSRTRDR]

black is not the best color if you have a lot of sun - I have literally burned myself on the steering wheel in AZ more than once

 

[Glacierskier]

How has the paint held up?