Restore 67 Wheel

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Thinking of installing a 67' wheel in my 70' G.M.C. So I went out to the wreckers and this is all I could find. Quite cracked up but hope to make this better then new.

esll.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

I'm sure that this is old hat for most members of this site. I thought that I would send some pictures any way for anybody that would like to do this.

esll.



File out the cracks with a small "V" file. This will ensure the epoxy fills the crack and has more of a surface to adhere to.

Next mix the epoxy filler and fill the cracks, don't be overly fussy just fill and smooth a bit as you will be sanding next.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

A couple more shots on the progress of the resto of my 67' steering wheel.

Epoxy is now dry and ready to be sanded. All the excess epoxy is sanded and your left with just the crack filled. I'll smooth this with "Bull Wool" before I primer the wheel.

esll.

[Shock_Me]

I've been doing the same thing with a 69 wheel. I'm using the Eastwood kit. The results so far a quite nice, just need to etch prime, and paint. Even if it cracks later, it's still better looking than the 1/2 inch gap it had in the beginning.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by Shock_Me

I've been doing the same thing with a 69 wheel. I'm using the Eastwood kit. The results so far a quite nice, just need to etch prime, and paint. Even if it cracks later, it's still better looking than the 1/2 inch gap it had in the beginning.

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I was going to use EastWood but it was to difficult to get it where I live. I have to go through a dealer in Ontario (over 3000 miles away) who gets it from the states. They send it to him, then he forwards it to me .... .

I'm curious what the brand name of the expoxy is in the EastWood kit? What did you sand your wheel with?

Yours looks great and I do not think you'll have a problem with it in the future. I can't stand the thought these old wheels and other parts going to the crusher. I found this NOS Horn cap in MI there is 43 more if you need one.

esll.

[Shock_Me]

Eastside,

Thanks. The Eastwood kit uses the PC-7 epoxy and hardener, just like you used. After the repair cured for 24 hours, I dry sanded with 220 grit, followed by 320 grit. Now I'll give the wheel a really good cleaning, followed by etch primer, and a good quality paint.
I get all my U.S. merchandise sent to a good friend in Maine. It's fairly easy for me to run down there, pick up my order, and pay the applicable sales taxes at the border. Saves me a lot of money not having to pay duty and brokerage fees.
Thanks for the horn cap offer, but this wheel is the 2 spoke 69-72 version, which uses the plastic horn cap.

Cheers,
Pete

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by Shock_Me

Eastside,

Thanks. The Eastwood kit uses the PC-7 epoxy and hardener, just like you used. After the repair cured for 24 hours, I dry sanded with 220 grit, followed by 320 grit. Now I'll give the wheel a really good cleaning, followed by etch primer, and a good quality paint.
I get all my U.S. merchandise sent to a good friend in Maine. It's fairly easy for me to run down there, pick up my order, and pay the applicable sales taxes at the border. Saves me a lot of money not having to pay duty and brokerage fees.
Thanks for the horn cap offer, but this wheel is the 2 spoke 69-72 version, which uses the plastic horn cap.

Cheers,
Pete

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Not too familiar with all the differences of each year. I ordered my Horn Cap part # 15601584 through the General. I'm going to use this 67' wheel on the 70' as I think it looks a bit more like it belongs in a truck. My steering wheel now (stock 70' wheel) is nice enough to look like it belongs in a car. I also like the feel of the old wheels a bit better. (IMHO)

esll.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Some more progress pic's. Here I'm just quickly putting a thin layer of fine finishing filler over all the steering wheel. This will be sanded and primered next.

esll.

Sanding .... lots of it, get used to it!

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Life gets in the way of the shop but I got a chance the other day and I got the wheel in final primer coat. Now it has to be sanded with 320 grit and painted the top coat.

esll.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Well this is the last coat of primer (3 in total) and I've rubbed this final coat down with 4 oooo Bull Wool. (See pictures.) I just sprayed the first finish coat as I'm writing this. I like to use 3 finish coats as well. Let dry 24 hrs. between coats and rub down with 4 oooo between each coat before applying the next finish coat.

Do "NOT" Rub too hard between coats as your not trying to sand just smoothing out the previous coat and giving a little bite for the next coat to adhere to.

esll.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

I got a chance to finish my 67' steering wheel today. The final finish coat was applied very early this morning and these are the pictures of the steering wheel completed.

To be able to order this steering wheel, get the NOS Horn button and the inner working peices would have cost me just shy of $400.00 CDA.

I found the wheel $10.00 @ the wreckers, paint, putty, sand paper are always in the shop, PC7 $19.00, Hornbutton $49.00, and a rubber seal $5.95 = $92.95 CDA total. This would be less of course in the US.

esll.

PS: Lot's of sanding ....

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

First things first .... thanks for the kind words. I used SEM TRIM PAINT & SEM PRIMER. It is really nice paint to use and it is very durable. I also used SEM TRIM PAINT on my truck as I wanted more of a satin look then a flat primer look and it is a sealer so even though it looks like primer you get all the benefits that a finished top coat can give you.

esll.