67 wheel make over

[Andy4639]

I'm starting a new project this morning. I retired on Jan 1,2019 so I have to stay busy and what better way than to do truck & car stuff! So I started working on the old 67 factory wheel that came in the ramp truck when I bought it. I was going to use my grinder to open up the cracks to be filled but I find out real quick that wasn't going to work!

So I got the RotoZip out and man it was nice and easy to get them cleaned up and ready to fill. The zip is just big enough to open the cracks up and you can use the end to dig into the wheel to get the bad out. It was so easy.
I then used the grinder to skim off the old paint and it's ready to fill the cracks up and dry then sand it again to body fill it. (not sure about the body filler)
I'm thinking this one will get a leather wrap around the diameter of the wheel but we will see how it turns out. Just for something a bit different form the norm. Plus it will help hide any mistakes along the way!

[Getter-Done]

I'll be watching.
I just purchased one here on the board to practice on.
Then I will tackle the one that came on my truck.

[RodnRudy]

Hey Andy, congrats on your retirement!

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by RodnRudy

Hey Andy, congrats on your retirement!

Thank you sir! So far I'm enjoying it.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

I'll be watching.
I just purchased one here on the board to practice on.
Then I will tackle the one that came on my truck.

I'm thinking about cutting the rim off this one and shrinking it down about a 1/4" are so maybe 1/2".

[Andy4639]

I guess it's going under the knife tomorrow are a saw rather. Going to go for a 15" over all diameter for the wheel once back together.

Good article on reclaiming a steering wheel by hot rod magazine.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/1208...heel-finished1

[Andy4639]

Today progress so far. Got a late start.
I got the wheel all cut a part. I plan on going 14" in diameter. I hope this want be to much but looking at it it shouldn't. I cut the wheel 4 times. I cut all 3 spokes off the ring just as close as I could. Then I cut the bottom of the ring so that once I have the jig made I can place it in it and hold it in place to mark it and cut it to 14" diameter. It will form it's shape then and I can see how much of the spokes I need to cut off to fit it back into the ring.
I'm not to worried about the ring and the final shaping since my plan is to leather cover it once done for even more of a custom look. But we will see how thing's go.

Now I need to build a jig to make the ring cut and to hold it in shape as we weld it.

The article I posted did this and it looked simple enough to build so I will start on it later today.

[Andy4639]

I got the steering ring laid out on the jig. I used plastic PVC pipe hangers to keep it in place. It's going to be 14" diameter when done. I have to mark it and do the final cut. Then clean it up for the welding process.

I also went a head and put the first layer of putty in the cracks to let harden. I figured I could be sanding on it tomorrow.

[franken]

I thought steering wheels were plastic around steel frames. In a front crash that will try and probably succeed in dismembering the driver. Apparently the red text is foreshadowing.

[shoveldug]

Originally Posted by franken

I thought steering wheels were plastic around steel frames. In a front crash that will try and probably succeed in dismembering the driver. Apparently the red text is foreshadowing.

I don't understand this comment? Did you not catch the fact that it is welded back together. I cut the one in my truck down to 14 inches in similar fashion and it came out very nice.

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Thank you sir! So far I'm enjoying it.

You'll love your retirement, been at it for years. Keep us posted.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by my56chevytruck

You'll love your retirement, been at it for years. Keep us posted.

Thanks so far so good. I've been busy ever since we retired.


I slept on the wheel like in the pictures all night but have decided to start over.
I should have started on one end of the ring at my 14" mark and worked my way around it to the other end. This will make it much easier to make the final cut for the ring size. Oh well it's my first time so I'll be sure to make more mistakes on my journey.

I will also use some wood blocks to set the wheel on the marks as I do it and then clamp it down. The blocks should make it much easier to hold in place I hope. It's a one man show so it was tough holding it yesterday while drilling the clamps down!
More pictures to come.

[slomotion]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

[B][COLOR="Red"]Thanks so far so good. I've been busy ever since we retired......................

Once you get the hang of "retirement" you'll wonder how you managed to get everything done while you were working! I can't remember what I did last week, but I know I was right out straight doing it! Happy retirement!

[Andy4639]

Well it took me about 1 hr to take it back a part and put it back like I needed it. It was so much easier than I thought it would be. I'm going to leave it in the jig for a few days and let it form to the new diameter of 14.25".
I was amazed at how easy the blocks made it to work with. I'm going to cut the final ring later this week and will take the RotoZip and cut the finger grips off to try and save them to use once it's back welded.

[WrenchTurner]

Looks good in to see how it comes out! Subscribed

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by WrenchTurner

Looks good in to see how it comes out! Subscribed

Thanks, it's progressing along pretty good. I have to go buy a piece of 5/8" all thread rod to align the hub to the ring and make sure I keep it level while we tack into place. The spokes will not go back where they where after the cutting. I cut 6" out of the ring altogether. I'll get back on it maybe tonight if my neighbor will help after he gets off work.
I hope I can get the putty to form as good as the rest of the wheel when I get to that point. That's my biggest concern.
But if not I have a back up plan to take care of it.

[basketcase]

Congrats on the retirement. Been at it 3 years now and I highly recommend it.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by basketcase

Congrats on the retirement. Been at it 3 years now and I highly recommend it.

Thanks, I think I'm going to enjoy it. I go work in the garage a while then come in and play with my grandson.


I went to ACE hardware and got a 5/8" all thread rod 12" long to center the hub and spokes over the wheel ring to find out where to cut the grips out to re weld it and to keep it leveled up.

[Andy4639]

It's all welded and cleaned up ready for epoxy now. It turned out better than I had thought. I measured from the bottom of the wheel where the spoke ties into the ring to both the other spokes and it's dead on 10.25". It's dang perfect if you ask me though! For my first time doing this it was a bunch of fun and time but well worth it so far.
I started on my 3 wheeler bike today also.

[zicc1835]

Nice work Andy.....I’ll be following ....congratulations on retirement I could have gone 2 years ago but having too much fun I’m going to take it a year at a time good luck with the steering wheel venture

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by zicc1835

Nice work Andy.....I’ll be following ....congratulations on retirement I could have gone 2 years ago but having too much fun I’m going to take it a year at a time good luck with the steering wheel venture

Thanks,

Yea 40 years was enough for me. I'm liking this retirement gig!

I go out and work in the garage for a bit and then come inside and play with my grandson.

[basketcase]

How is the steering wheel coming along? If you can restore that one I can do mine. I'll be following the progress.

BTW I retired 3 years ago and I highly recommend it.

Tom