Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[OrrieG]

Thanks guys, rude you are right its a TRUCK wheel not one of those fufu ones! I've never driven this with power steering, will probably have a little bit of learning curve on over correcting.

[Madd Doc]

Nice job on the wheel, I would rather spend 2 hours making something I could buy for 2 dollars.

[OrrieG]

Here are some photos of the steering wheel mods I had to make. I am going to do a separate detail thread just in case anyone else wants to do it. The method should work for an later model GM standard, tilt or tilt/tele column. I had to add a washer on the back of the 48 wheel to take the place of the stock upper bearing that the wire to the horn relay attaches to. I had to modify the GM trim pieces.

Most interesting part was figuring out the transition between the trim ring and steering wheel. I thought about using fiberglass but decided to take a trip to the big box hardware store to see if I could find something with an angle to transition from the trim to the wheel. I was wandering around looking a one of the female associates asked what I was looking for. I told her what I was trying to do, she thought for literally about 5 seconds then said follow me. Not a hard thing to do, she was easy on the eyes. We ended up in the toilet repair section. She grabbed a tank to base gasket and asked if it would work. With a little trimming it looked plausible. I asked her how she figured that out, she said her and her husband are gear heads too and are always doing the same thing, looking for something that works.

[OrrieG]

Also started the wheel repair with my trusty roto tool and JB Weld.

[Green 1959]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Also started the wheel repair with my trusty roto tool and JB Weld.

I got myself a origanal steering wheel and need to do some repairs as well. How did JB weld work on that? Is there another method you would recommand?

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Green 1959

I got myself a origanal steering wheel and need to do some repairs as well. How did JB weld work on that? Is there another method you would recommand?

I use JB weld alot for cleaning up minor welding, etc. imperfections on brackets and such. The HAMB guys recommend it and another two part epoxy, I suspect they are similar. I know JB Weld does not shrink once it cures and will stick to anything, including you. It takes off a couple of layers of skin when removed. Some guys use body filler, but I do not think it would hold up because the wheels flex when used.

You can work it with metal files and 80 grit paper to shape, then lighter weight paper. Just make sure you under cut the cracks a little (tip I got from HAMB board too) to prevent it popping out. Does not have to be continous, just some holes, kind of like what the dentist does to keep the filling from rising. I think the 58-59 wheels are more of a plastic than the earlier one I was working on. should be an easy fix, not as many compound curves as the older ones around the horn area. I saw where you have the factory blinker assembly, that is cool.

Do a search over a HAMB for "steering wheel repair" and a number of good threads show up.

[Green 1959]

Yeah its funny you mention the turn signal thing, the wheel when it came had a blanked out collar. Is it a odd to have the turn signal?