Posted By: 1970RT
Steering wheel resto paint questions - 02/23/12 02:14 AM
I'm restoring a 68-69 A/B-body black three spoke sport steering wheel (the type that looks like the woodgrain wheels only black). I am to the point where I am ready to paint and would like to know what paints for both the rim and the spokes is best for replicating the original colors and amount of gloss. Also, should the black on the rim be some sort of textured paint to simulate woodgrain?
Posted By: LimeliteAero
Re: Steering wheel resto paint questions - 02/23/12 02:34 PM
there should not be any texture in a colored wheel for 68-69, that was the 70 wheel.
member Pntastar69 recently converted his "wood" wheel into a Black wheel with amazing results. maybe he'll chime in with some input.
Posted By: 1970RT
Re: Steering wheel resto paint questions - 02/23/12 04:45 PM
Was the black wheel available in 70? I was under the impression the black wheel was 68-69 only. I can't say for sure what year the wheel is from but although it was worn smooth all the way around the rim there is still some texture visible where the plastic joins the spokes.
Posted By: 6bblgt
Re: Steering wheel resto paint questions - 02/23/12 04:52 PM
The textured & colored steering wheels that looked similar to the wood-grained "sport" wheel were STANDARD on '69 Barracudas ONLY & came in Green, Tan, Blue, Red, & Black.
Posted By: plumbeeper
Re: Steering wheel resto paint questions - 02/25/12 03:15 AM
Duplicating the pebblegrain would be nearly impossible to do as a restoration. Your best bet is to just make it smooth. To refinish the spokes, get PPG "Liquid Metal". It is the closest thing you'll find to the satin chrome finish.
Posted By: kentj340
Re: Steering wheel resto paint questions - 02/28/12 06:32 AM
I'm pretty sure the spokes are either stainless or satin chrome, not originally painted. Be sure to try polishing the finish back to original look before resorting to paint. Mine looks great with just polishing.
In the case of chrome plating, you can make light rust disappear with extra polishing. Pick one small area, hand polish with chrome polish for about 5 minutes, and watch carefully if the rust is decreasing. If so, you might be able to get all the rust off. It's as though some of the iron molecules got on top of the chrome, but they can be wiped off with extra polishing. Polishing rust off chrome will take some time and elbow grease, but it works!
I got all the rust off my gear shift lever by polishing. Took maybe 1 hour of work. This didn't work for my exhaust tips - they were too far gone and pitted.
The dealer data book calls it "leather like" however I would describe as pebble grain. The texture is very similar to the finish on the 69-70 B body rallye dash. I have one that has split at the top in the same way as the woodgrain wheels do. I have checked with several wheel restorers but they cannot match the texture. Will try to post a pic later today.
GREEN
