|
By 56Club_modified - 18 Years Ago
|
|
On the "old" site under the archives I remember seeing a bunch of posts on steering wheel replacements for a '56 Fairlane but those are all gone. I pulled my wheel off to "repair" it with an Eastwood kit, but I think it's in too poor of a shape for safety reasons - major cracks at all of the spokes where they connect to the horn hub. Most "used" wheels seem to be in really bad shape too. I want to stay with a classic look - chrome trim at least - but don't want to spend $300+ for a billet or "banjo" wheel. Any ideas ? Replacements, places to look, good online vendors, etc. ?
|
|
By Hoosier Hurricane - 18 Years Ago
|
|
The '56 wheel has a steel hub with steel spokes and a steel rim, all encased in a molded plastic/rubber material for cosmetic purposes. So your wheel, though the plastic is cracked, is not unsafe. The appearance reconditioning kit would make the wheel look as new if carefully done. John
|
|
By LON - 18 Years Ago
|
|
I agree with John .I have repaired a few very sad looking steering wheels .Bondo or "Bog " as we call it here ,will work wonders .All it takes is lots and lots of filling and a heck of a lot of sanding . If you want a really good paint finish ,have it sprayed in 2 pac . For a custom finish ,have it sprayed with old fashioned "Metal Flake ".$20 or $30 worth of Bondo & sand paper should cover it ?Sure beats $300 for a billet wheel . Regards Lon
|
|
By Moz - 18 Years Ago
|
|
i agree with john & lon i have repaired the one on my customline it had been hit with a hammer on the spokes i was going to use bog untill an old mechanic friend told me to go to the local toy shop that sells plastic model cars etc & buy some modelling putty you mix the 2 parts together put it on the steering wheel mould it to the shape you want let it cure minnimal sanding to make it smooth & paint it brand new steering wheel
|
|
By Canadian Hot Rodder - 18 Years Ago
|
|
Hey Lon, Maybe Lynne can fix YOU up with $20.00 with of bondo and a lot of sanding??????  Nah! She'd probably say it would be better to scrap you and get a newer model!  Rob
|
|
By paul2748 - 18 Years Ago
|
|
Eastwood has a steering wheel repair (kit?).
|
|
By PF Arcand - 18 Years Ago
|
|
Further, the deep dish wheel is unique & originally designed as a safety feature. However, as they have gotten old the rim which is somewhat thin and a bit hard to grip, particularly with manual steering, could use some help. One things that helps and looks alright, is one of those Black Leather sew on covers.
|
|
By PWH42 - 18 Years Ago
|
|
Paul, You're right about those sew-on covers,but I've not been able to find them anymore.I got one at Walmart for another car about 6 years ago,but they don't have them anymore.Neither does NAPA,O'reilly's or J.C.Whitney.I finally went to a truck stop where I found they have stretch on covers for big trucks that are big enough for the old Ford car wheels.
|
|
By Moz - 18 Years Ago
|
|
g'day gary i still have the modelling putty at work i will get the name of it & send you a pm its only about 5 years ago i bought it
|
|
By Canadian Hot Rodder - 18 Years Ago
|
|
I have a leather, sew on cover on my steering wheel. You can see it in my profile pictures. It really enhaces the grip on the wheel. I perchased mine through a local speed shop called "Performance Improvements" and it was a kit form. I can't remember the name of the company, but I know it came from the US. They had standard ones on the shelf for 12" & 14" whhels, but I had to custom order one for the stock 18" wheel. It works very well and comes in lots of colours, I will try and find the name of the company and post it. Rob
|
|
By Canadian Hot Rodder - 18 Years Ago
|
|
I found the name of the company that makes the kit, it is called "Wheelskin". Not sure who distributes this product in the US, but I thought it was worth the $40.00 it cost me. A heck of a lot cheaper than a billet wheel and I was able to keep the original and have a better grip. Rob
|
|
By paul2748 - 18 Years Ago
|
|
AS far as repairing the wheel, there is a product called PC-7 tha is supposed to be very good. I have no experience with it.
|
|
By Moz - 18 Years Ago
|
|
g'day gary i sent you a pm in case you dont get it the name of the putty is millput its in 2 parts you kneed together until it looks like blu tak
|
|
By paul2748 - 18 Years Ago
|
|
I googled WHEELSKIN and found sites of companies that carry them. However, A chart on one site starts Ford off with 1980 so they look like they will not fit the large diameter wheels that came on early and mid 50's Fords.
|
|
By Canadian Hot Rodder - 18 Years Ago
|
|
Carl, There standard ones don't fit, but through the speed shop, they had a form for me to fill out listing my wheel diameter and rim diameter / thickness. It took about a week to get a custom one ordered in. Thanks. Rob
|
|
By San Diego Ron - 18 Years Ago
|
|
I used JB Weld to repair and finished it off with a little Bondo then painted basecoat/clearcoat with raddle can
|
|
By San Diego Ron - 18 Years Ago
|
|
Here are pictures of wheel repair 
|