Restoring original steering wheel?
 

The steering wheel in my '73 is kinda...gross. I guess this is a common thing when they get old, all my trucks have been like this...just sort of sticky and gooey.

Since my truck is a Cheyenne Super it has the wood grain trim on the dash, doors, and on the wheel. I think I can save the fake wood sections, but the door panels and the rest of the dash need restoration.

Anyway, I've always thought the steering wheels in these trucks were ugly, until I saw a picture of somebody's shiny Cheyenne with a similar wood inlay in great shape, and I like it. Can I save my "rotten" steering wheel? Is there any way to 'fix' the vinyl or whatever it's made out of that's all sticky?

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

I've not had any success cleaning one and making the stickiness stay away. I had one that I scrubbed really clean, let it dry a few days then hit it with some SEM black. The wheel held up for a couple months before the junk came back. Not sure what effect climate has on it but I live in a hazy hot summertime environment.

I guess the manufacturers didn't have the technology available back then that they have now.


SEM link.........

http://sem.ws/?home=1

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

i did mine. it took about 4 hours of scrubbing with brake cleaner,:lol: goof off, tons of rags and a scotch brite pad. it was a real pita though. here's a pic

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

You can get them pretty clean with some spray cleaner that has ammonia in it. You should do this on a regular basis anyway due to the amount of germs in our lives, and especially if you pick your nose when you're driving...:lol:

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

awsome panel you put in, whered you get it?

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

I had the same problem. I used rubbing alcohol and a bunch of rags.

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

In my experience you just have to scrub it regularly, like mentioned above. It will always come back. My steering wheel is fine in the summer but as soon as it gets cold, moisture builds up in the cab and somehow reacts on the steering wheel to make it sticky again.

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

Funny I was just talking about this yesterday, anyway from what I have read it has to do with the material inside the wheel, the padding or foam in there, it simply disintegrates and turns into some sort of sticky oily substance that leaks through the vinyl outer covering. I guess it has been a problem for years. Im not sure if the later model steering wheels were any better but it is a posibility that it was cured in the 80's. Could try and find a newer one.

Re: Restoring original steering wheel?
 

I got this tilt column from a junkyard (steering wheel included), so you can imagine the crustiness of it from sitting on a shelf for who knows how long..lol

anywho.... got it home scoured it clean and painted it to match my panels... could be an idea for ya...

BTW... let you all in on a lil secret... it didn't come with the chevy horn center deal, or the horn guts at all either.. had to search for a cap in the junkyard and Gorilla Glued it on.. hehe :-p
besides the horn in my square never worked anyway...