My steering wheel restore detailed.

[Zak's Z]

I know this topic has been covered before, but I thought I'd post the pics and describe the steps I took while doing it.

In between working on the body I have a '71 and a '72 wheel I thought I'd restore becasue they were pretty ratty looking. I did them both in case one didnt turn out well, and if they both turned out well, I'd sell one after the restore was done. I think they both turned out well.

I masked off the wheel and sandblasted the spokes just enough to take most of the paint off. Then I hand sanded the spokes(with 800 then 1500), paying special attention to the holes in the '72 wheel, and the indents in the '71 wheel.

I then used a rattle can of semi-gloss black engine enamel to paint the spokes. I ended up sanding in between coats with 00 Steel-Wool. I tried 1500 paper, but it was just too cumbersome and it always ended up sanding to metal on all the edges. I sprayed maybe 5 coats, and sanding in between coats.

(continued below)

[Zak's Z]

Then I masked the spokes to get started on the wheel (I made the mistake and started sanding the wheel before I masked the spokes..had to do a re-do).

Then I hand sanded each wheel. There may have been a better way, but I didnt see one to get all the fine detailing that needed to get done. I sanded it with 320 first lightly, then 800 to get the last of the original coating off. I didnt take any pictures of what it looked like with the sanded wheel, but it was ugly.

I also didnt sand down the '71 enough I think, because theres small spots where the original coating (urethane?) can be seen thru the new coating and it looks like a foggy white, so be sure to sand it down enough. BUT...not too much because you might remove the 'patina', it is a wood with plastic infused wheel I think.

I had to take a break for a day, because my fingers were killing me. It took a couple of hours to to do both.

Then I used MINWAX wood finish stain to give the wheel one coat just to bring some color into the (really dull looking after sanding)wheel. I forget the color I used for the '71, I couldnt find the can after I did it. I thought it was the lighter of the 'red' colors, but I used 'sedona red' for the '72, and it looked to dark. I re-sanded the '72 wheel to get the sedona-red out, but it was still a bit darker, so I got 'cherry' and gave it a coat of that. Cherry looks good.

Then I used MINWAX fast-drying polyurethane in a rattle can and gave it several coats of that. I sanded it with 00 steel wool after, lightly, just to smooth out the spots where I was a bit heavy.

Then finally, I used turtle-wax polishing compound on the wheel, just to get it real smooth.

I think it looks pretty good, what do you guys think?

[SavannahZ]

Thanks for the write-up. Looks great!!

[Arne]

Wow, ZaK! Looks great! Would you like to do mine, too?

[Zak's Z]

..when I get the feeling back in my fingers maybe.

[EScanlon]

Good write up.

Revisiting a "previous" topic when you spell it out as you have is actually visiting it "properly".

Good work.

Enrique

[Arne]

I did mine today. My rim wasn't too bad so I decided I'd leave it as is - retain some of the patina, so to speak. But the spokes were bad. Chips, scrapes and corrosion, plus at least two coats of paint. So I decided I had to strip all the way to bare metal. I'm pleased with the result, the steering wheel and the new OE walnut shift knob are the best looking parts of my car!

[Mat M]

Zak! thanks for giving me the impetus to redo my wheel.

Arne, Looks GREAT! You had the same results I had when I did mine.

[Zak's Z]

Arne - That looks great.

MatM - glad to hear you did yours.

As soon as I get the shell stripped and off to the body shop, I'll restore a bunch more stuff and post some pics.

[TriDawgn]

Just did mine while waiting for some parts from MSA. I think it turned out quite well. Used same method, thanks for the tips. I added some closeups too, the paint was rough and now is smooth, and the wheel has a lot nicer colour with a glossy finish.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Tristan:

Thanks for the update. The split image pictures are a GREAT way of showing the improvements.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I am starting this process now. I have read all the restoring the steering wheel threads and it really is easier than it looks. Not that it looks hard, but the bottom line is remove old topcoat until the rim is smooth to the touch. Apply stain of your choice. Let dry, use rattle can to get nice glossy finish.

I am done with my rim and I am going to do my spokes when I get home today.