'68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
#1620550
05/16/14 12:50 AM
05/16/14 12:50 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 364
Houston, Texas
Slant6pak
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OP
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Posts: 364
Houston, Texas
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Hey guys,
I'm searching for a woodgrain steering wheel to replace the green taxi cab wheel in my 1968 Coronet.
I've been trying to find a decent original for sale, but even ones that are IMO, pretty rough seem to go for decent money.
I see there are repop wheels available for around $600, are they any good?
Who would you use to restore an original and what is the approximate cost?
Thanks
2016 Challenger Scat Pack Shaker  1000 ci Brass Era Speedster project
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: Slant6pak]
#1620551
05/16/14 03:41 AM
05/16/14 03:41 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 290
Dayton, WA
wesgtx440
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Dayton, WA
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I have heard good things about steering wheels restored by http://garyssteeringwheel.com/ the aftermarket ones that I have read about all have spokes that are way shiny compared to stock.
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: wesgtx440]
#1620552
05/16/14 08:28 AM
05/16/14 08:28 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Nice used or restored woodgrain wheels are not cheap or plentiful. Expect to have to pay $500 - $800 for a real nice one with the center cap and goods. "Restored" ones with bondo'd up handles, sandpapered grain and spray painted spokes generally take a while to sell for around $500. Repops would be my absolute last resort as they have chrome plated spokes and a handle with drawn on grain that has no texture to it.
Wait for a nice used wheel to pop up unless the other two options dont bother you.
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: ]
#1620553
05/17/14 12:30 PM
05/17/14 12:30 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 364
Houston, Texas
Slant6pak
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Houston, Texas
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I seem to remember that when a wheel is restored, that nothing can be done with the spokes if they are flaking/pitted.
Is that correct?
2016 Challenger Scat Pack Shaker 1000 ci Brass Era Speedster project
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: Slant6pak]
#1620556
05/19/14 02:26 AM
05/19/14 02:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,942
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
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I Win
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Quote:
I seem to remember that when a wheel is restored, that nothing can be done with the spokes if they are flaking/pitted.
Is that correct?
Doug in Canada was able to have the spokes redone .
Then there is always NOS ...
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: Slant6pak]
#1620557
05/19/14 11:43 AM
05/19/14 11:43 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
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I Live Here
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Several alternatives, restore the wheel yourself if you have the skill sets, buy NOS, or extremely nice used, buy junk have it restored, or buy repro, and if you want it to look "original" send it out to several of the wheel restorers, they can scotchbrite the chrome down to look like the dull nickel sheen it should have, and they can "cut" a new grain and finish it accordingly...depending on your choice, your going to spend several hundred to a G note to get what you desire
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#1620558
05/20/14 01:22 PM
05/20/14 01:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 364
Houston, Texas
Slant6pak
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Are there several versions of the wheel?
I seen one that the rim was all wood grain, one that had a chrome band on the outside of the rim, and one that looked like woodgrain on the front of the rim, but behind the chrome band it looked black.
Which is correct for a '68 car?
Thanks
2016 Challenger Scat Pack Shaker 1000 ci Brass Era Speedster project
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: Slant6pak]
#1620560
05/20/14 02:23 PM
05/20/14 02:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
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I Live Here
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Mass
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Correct for a 68 RR is woodgrain front and back, with stainless steel bands on the outside and inside of the wheels rim separating the front from the back, basically splitting the steering wheel in half, so to speak, the B body woodgrain wheels are basically the same, with the exception of the 70 B body models, which have a different woodgrain color, as well as 3 small holes drilled into the spokes near the horn center to mount the steering column filler ring needed because in 70 the ignition switch was in the column, making the column larger in diameter, so the 70 wheels were modified with an adapter ring to cover the larger opening of the 70 columns
mike
Here's a 68 RR woodgrain wheel below
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: Slant6pak]
#1620561
05/20/14 02:31 PM
05/20/14 02:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
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I Live Here
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Mass
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Chase, go to this link, if your thinking of having a repro wheel redone to look like original www.steeringwheelsbymike.com then click on "wheels album #1" to see his conversions of the repro wheels Mike
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: Redbird]
#1620565
05/25/14 02:04 PM
05/25/14 02:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,942
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
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I Win
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Quote:
There were 2 different woodgrain steering wheels from 1969. Most all of them are not drilled for the 3 holes.
There are some very late model 1969 wheels drilled for the 3 holes. The serial numbers of the 3 holed wheels are 90 degrees in orientation from the earlier wheels.
I am not sure if these 3 holed wheels could have been used on early 1970 cars.
The 3 holes in the wheel were for the ring that was added to a 70 wheel because of the column change so I don't know why that wheel would not have been used on an early 70 car??
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Re: '68 woodgrain steering wheel, restore vs. repop?
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#1620567
07/27/14 02:07 AM
07/27/14 02:07 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,653
Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340
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Cut and Shoot, TX
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Quote:
Correct for a 68 RR is woodgrain front and back, with stainless steel bands on the outside and inside of the wheels rim separating the front from the back, basically splitting the steering wheel in half, so to speak
I need one of these too.
Since I don't have one, I can't confirm how the stainless bands were made, but I think those are inlaid?
So if you add real wood, you need a plan to replicate the stainless bands.
But real wood could be really nice. Please post photos and discuss if you get it done.
If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
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Still have to find the center pieces for them though.
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