Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Steering Wheel repaint

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Guest

    Steering Wheel repaint

    Steering Wheel repainting
    I plan on removing the steering wheel this week end. I want to change the detent plate and the shifting lever. Then I can adjust the starting contacts and the backup light switch. The steering wheel has some chips in the paint. The question I have is the chrome inserts on the spokes of the steering wheel. How are they removed so I can repair, sand, and paint the wheel?

    Larry.
  • jopizz
    Super-Experienced


    • Nov 23 2009
    • 8308

    #2
    They just push in so you need to use a small screwdriver or something similar to get underneath and pry them out.

    John
    John Pizzi - Squarebirds Administrator

    Thunderbird Registry #36223
    jopizz@squarebirds.org 856-779-9695

    https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm

    Comment

    • Guest

      #3
      Larry, use a 1" or 1.5" flat blade putty knife to gently slide in under the chrome spear. The detents that hold the spear into the wheel spoke are about 1" from either end, so that's where you want to slide under and pry up gently. The spears will pop out quite easily.

      Comment

      • Anders
        Super-Experienced
        • Jan 19 2008
        • 2213

        #4
        Here is a pic of what it looks like. Donīt pay any attension to the bad chrome. That will be replaced before this wheel goes into the car.
        Attached Files
        sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
        http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

        Comment

        • Guest

          #5
          Anders, I see you must have sent your wheel to AUS to have it carmelized. Looks pretty nice. I would love to see a pic of the entire wheel. Are you going to repaint your Bird's exterior that same color green? And the interior trim colors too?

          Comment

          • Anders
            Super-Experienced
            • Jan 19 2008
            • 2213

            #6
            Yes, I got it last spring as a matter of fact. Beleve I have already put up pics somewhere. The car will be "Watson style" in silver/white pearl with green fields. The instruments will also be pearl green. Steering collum will be green. The rest of the interior will be All Red Semi Anelin, so the highest quality leather. Even the dash
            If anyone are interested, Pearlcraft in Australia do these wheels. In any color. VERY NICE people indeed! Canīt recommend them enough.
            Check out there Gallery, and droooool at: http://www.pearlcraft.com.au/

            Edit: I put in some pics in " Project Ruth ". http://www.squarebirds.org/vbulletin...1694#post71694
            Last edited by Anders; January 4, 2013, 09:29 PM.
            sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
            http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

            Comment

            • simplyconnected
              Administrator
              • May 26 2009
              • 8778

              #7
              After reading the Pearlcrafter's site, it seems to me that they want a perfect steering wheel to start.

              That raises big red flags to me because many of our original wheels have cracks down to the steel. When the steel rusts (you can't stop it), the rust must be removed before any plastic is replaced.

              99% of this job is in preparation. If not done right, it won't last long. That's where Jed Zimmerman comes in. He can bring the wheel down to the steel, remove the rust, and epoxy the missing portions.

              I'm in the Rust Belt (Michigan) where carbon steel quickly goes back to the earth. That's why I had Jed do my 1955 Customline steering wheel. The paint job is secondary to the structural integrity of my two-spoked wheel. Jed did a fine job and his prices are good. (Just my two cents) - Dave
              Member, Sons of the American Revolution

              CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.

              "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
              --Lee Iacocca

              From: Royal Oak, Michigan

              Comment

              • Anders
                Super-Experienced
                • Jan 19 2008
                • 2213

                #8
                No, they don't want a new wheel. Not at all. Quite opposite as a matter of fact ( they wrote to me )
                , as they take away the old, or some of the old material in the process. They can also reduce the diameter if you want. I found one old beaten up wheel in Australia, from one of our friends here on the forum, Tony Hamblin. That was cheeper than the shipping for one extra I bought from Jed Zimmerman. ( So I have another wheel for the future.)
                Here is how my wheel looked like when they got it from Tony:

                ( As soon as they figured out that I work at Volvo, they asked me about an old model from 1935 and sended me a pic of what they have to work with. That was not much of anything on that one, but as we have a few cars in our Museum I vent there to take a few shots on how it should look, and they where very happy to then be able to restore it to itīs original look. Funny enogh, when the owner of that car heard about this he started to mailbomb me about zillions questions how this and that looked on our museum cars... )
                Attached Files
                Last edited by Anders; January 5, 2013, 11:07 AM.
                sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
                http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

                Comment

                Working...
                😀
                🥰
                🤢
                😎
                😡
                👍
                👎