Cracked or damaged vintage car Steering wheel repair. 1968 Pontiac Firebird
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- Restoring a 1968 Firebird steering wheel. How to repair cracks and prep for paint. We show the simplest way we could find to get the job done.
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Jon Forehan VVG
6780 west Washington street
Indianapolis IN 46241
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#Pontiac #Firebird #restoration - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Pantera! Nice
Indeed my all time
Favorite. Just saw what’s left of them in concert this past summer. Not the same as the 90s bust still very cool.
Great vid thank you
No problem 👍
We gotta get u a work bench.. ya killing my back 😂
Lol. I know. But it takes up space. How about a bigger garage and a work bench 😁
Not to mention my knees .. ...
Hey Jon. I'm gonna send you an image of my buddies folding wooden saw horses. Combined with an old bifold door they make a strong durable work table that takes up minimal space. Save your body parts. The after market stuff just isn't as good as oem.
I'll send it to your e mail .
Great content.
You are the birdman.
Nice!
Thanks
I love its
It was a lot of work but totally worth it
I’m wondering if you could have taped both sides and used a large syringe to put the filler in between. Would have made outside and smooth and easy as inside?
This stuff flows fairly well and if you used the mixing tip provided I bet you could. Great suggestion! Thanks
Cool
Hope to be painting this wheel soon.
@VVG Firebird Restoration Station I just bought a rosewood repop. Price seem reasonable
Pantera playing in the background. Awesome
It’s very motivating and keeps things moving
Wont be cheap, but if you make them for other people check on getting a 3d scanner and printer. You might even be able to find a program online already foy the steering wheel and have someone print it along with other plastic trim pieces.
I tried to find a 3D printer guy for my rear spoiler, it wasn’t going to be cheap. Approximately $1,000
I fixed mine with JB plastic weld about 8 years ago . I put it in a vise with plastic jaws to hold the wheel . Still looks great !!!
That’s awesome, 8 years. Seems JB weld holds up good for this process.
Sometimes I am so glad to have the Camaro instead, got a perfect repro steering wheel for $100. Mine had that same plastic that warped and cracked very badly
Dang. Wish they made a replacement for the deluxe wheel for the bird.
I charge 2 grand for my restored AMX wheels it is a ton of hand work to get them show perfect.
It’s not a quick job to get them sanded and reshaped. If you don’t want to do it yourself it wont be cheap.
For complex shapes such as this, dash pieces, custom work, whatever. If you mix a little fiberglass resin with body filler(using the proper hardener for both) it makes a brushable filler that smoothes out nicely. Just brush a thin layer on your work piece and then sand and prime as normal. It's really great for large areas too.
Fantastic tip!! Haven’t heard that one yet I will definitely be using it.
@@VinylVillageGarage Resin in body filler, Duraglass, Tiger hair, or epoxy. Been doin that for decades, works great. Just use body filler paste hardener in with the resin, works perfect. Play around with the amounts of resin & hardener before you put any on the wheel. I use Duraglass not epoxy but it shouldn't matter. If it starts smokin ---- you might need to back off on the hardener a might! lol. We caught a floor patch on fire useing to much hardener ---- Oh yeah sure enough. But we was in a BIG hurry to get to grinding on it !--- It was a low life stinkin Ford so who cares right. 🤣
I was going to take one on, but I ended up buying a new one, however, I still have one I can repair and maybe one day I will. PS: I have an extra centerpiece for a Firebird and if you are interested in it I can send it to you.
I will have probably 20 hours of time invested into this wheel when done, next time i might just buy the sport option wood wheel next time. Lol. Anyway I would definitely be interested in any extra parts. Especially for interiors
@@VinylVillageGarage is your address listed?
Yes, it’s in the video description. I added it hoping someone would send me a million dollars sometime.
wow. Great job Jon. Hope you video the completion of the steering wheel.
Yup. Once I get what interior parts all put together to paint I will do a follow up video then.
Good job John! I never thought of using panel adhesive.
Seems to be holding up and easy enough to sand too. It’s ready to be painted now.
Here is the problem with all the 67/68 plastic Firebird deluxe wheels. My 68 Bird was ordered with a quick ratio MANUAL steering box ( VERY rare, stupid thing take a special center link and steering box pitman arm than any other bird has) That quick manual box was noted on my PHS check list for my car so I am NOT changing it. With the extra force it takes in parking lots to MAN HANDLE that quick box, it is pure hell on any plastic deluxe wheel no matter how good they are. After buying and repairing 3 different really nice ones over the years, they all crack again in very short order because of that 2 handed beast of a manual steering box. Add to that issue most of the factory GM 3 spoke stainless wheels ( AKA Corvette or SS cars) also seem to brake at the outer ring at the spokes as well. So, I was looking at a Oldsmobile SX 4 spoke stainless wheel that the spokes & ring are thicker than any of the other GM factory stainless 3 spoke wheels. At a local swap meet I seen a nice black Olds SX wheel with the hub & horn kit all tougher CHEAP ! took it home, cleaned it up and used a deluxe Firebird center cap fits right on the Olds horn plate and damn if that Olds wheel doesn't look FACTORY ! on my 68 Bird. It's the only not correct trim piece on my car now. Every part on my car is correct to the factory build sheet, even used a low life AM radio in it. However, I do have 3 power trains for the Bird from numbers matching YC 335hp stock 400 to my fully forged BEAST ! Ram Air IV soon to get a set of Tunnel port V afternarket aluminum heads. NO, Wife doesn't know about them yet $$$$$ !!!!!!!!! then new aluminum R/AV heads will not go over well AT ALL when she see's the check book! fact is she reallllly HATES my Pontiac ( only because of that manual steering box she can't DRIVE the CAR !) lol.
See link www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=LgxdlwSU&id=0565D57D6B0C3A5C61CE0477FBD2D2DD69BAA19D&thid=OIP.LgxdlwSUU8sz4mByNBIF8AHaGe&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fcimg4.ibsrv.net%2fgimg%2fclassicoldsmobile.com-vbulletin%2f700x612%2folds_custom_sport_steering_wheel_db774488fd1438c1189a3b884d22f8790e955c04.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.2e0c5d97049453cb33e26072341205f0%3frik%3dnaG6ad3S0vt3BA%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=612&expw=700&q=pictures+of+oldsmobile+sx+4+spoke+steering+wheel&simid=607988346877314771&FORM=IRPRST&ck=E5220C19DC2118695D3116BE2A4EE593&selectedIndex=33&qpvt=pictures+of+oldsmobile+sx+4+spoke+steering+wheel&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0
I have been reading about the reproduction ram air5 heads. Very interesting, out of my
Ready for now but really would like to hear one running surly has a different sound because of the valve configuration.
Hey Jon, awesome video and exactly what I needed to see, cuz my steering wheel for my 68 is in similar shape. If you do a finishing video for the steering wheel, would love to see it, especially the type of paint you use. Worried about which paint won't get gummy over time with sweaty paws using it.
I will definitely put a video on finishing the wheel. I used the same paint that goes on the outside of the car. Base clear.
Nice work! That’s about what my deluxe wheel looks like right now. Thanks for all the help. I was able to get the front subframe off thanks to your video. I even used bricks!
Lol. Hey the bricks are my friends they are super handy and glad they worked for you as well.
I restored one that was in pretty bad shape using PC-7 putty then painting. Held up pretty well.
Cool. How long ago did you restore it?
Looks like it works pretty good, I have done something similar to rubber window seals on T-top with ATV silicone sealant by filling the rip and putting tape over to keep the shape until it's dry and it blends in very well.
It works! I like creative repairs and solutions.
Great Job on the wheel. I did a 64 Pontiac wheel in a similar way. I wish I would have feathered back the cracks like you did. The 3M plastic repair seems like a better way to go then the JBweld type. I researched all kinds of epoxy and ended up using marine epoxy. My other lesson learned is use good Automotive 2 part paints, even for the hi build primer and durable clear.
I did a 1967 gto wheel years ago and it had some hair line cracks beside the epoxy so i am trying the tapered technique this time and different epoxy. I am sure someone has perfected steering wheel restoration, seeem JB weld is super popular
Great video, I was wondering what to use and how to repair ours. Now we know. Thanks
Glad to help And have used JB weld in the past and also got great results too.
Patrick says "Cool save on OE part. Also interesting editing of video. I sure enjoy your creative solutions !"
Thanks friend hoping to get this car to the point I can drive it. Need a steering wheel to do so.
Great work. That steering wheel really shaped up.....no pun intended...lol. Sadly i think mine went in the trash bin alot of years ago. I kinda wish i would have kept it now. Cant wait to see how the finished product looks.
Lol. I do love puns. I am collecting parts to paint for the interior. I will be painted them all at the same time is the plan. I will do a follow up video then.
Sure hope you show the rest of this steering wheel to completion, looks like it’s gonna work well
Yup planned on it. Didn’t want that video to get too long. Definitely will be revisiting this project t
Nice work!
It’s coming out nicely
I must have at least a half dozen of these Deluxe wheels in the garage and maybe enough 'bits' to complete two more cores. I have a question. the wheels come two steel inserts, a small diameter that produces cracks, and there is a large diameter that produces BIG cracks that bind badly with the column collar and the expanded diameter interfers with the wheel's center cap attachment. Did you have to 'tune' these edges to make the cap comfortably fit and no collar binds? Was my concerns valid?.
Also I notice there are differences deween the 68 and 69 center caps. One is a silver mirror ring around the bird and the other has grooves in the ring like an LP. For the life of me which style belongs with which year? Dang! I'll have to check the wheels that I know they came off '68s.
I didn’t experience any clearance issues with this wheel, I did have to remove some plastic to get it shaped right. Because as you know the cracks are from shrinkage and it totally distorted the original shape and fitment so to get it to look and fit well lots of modifications and test fitting.
If you want to sell one of those wheels I might be interested too 😎
Great video! How do you take off the steering wheel logo cap? Is it held on with clips?
If it’s a deluxe wheel like this one It pulls off there it is like 3 point spring clip. It’s a snug fit but it will pull off by hand.
@@VinylVillageGarage Much Appreciated.
Put it in the dishwasher. Lol😅
Gotta get it clean somehow.
Hey buddy I love the interior of the car at the beginning of the video the steering wheel looks like is going to come out great I did mine's pretty much the same but used JB weld I will make a video on it in the future great job my brother and that dash is looking awesome 👌
Seems JB weld is the most popular repair material for these wheels so you should have great long lasting results.
Pretty cool. I personally would not have had the patience to complete a job like what you’re tackling, but based on what I’ve seen, and I’ve watched a lot of your videos, you seem to be able to do pretty much anything, lol. I paid a pretty good amount of money, not $2000 but a lot of money to have mine professionally redone and it was about a six month wait but the results were excellent
Well I try to do all I can myself mostly because I like the challenge and feeling of victory when done. I have had my
Butt kicked by some parts but that’s what makes the victory even nicer. I can only guess shop rates and materials but I know it’s not cheap most people would not mess with it and buy the nice repop wood wheel instead, still a nice option. I prefer the deluxe wheel on a 1968 bird.
@@VinylVillageGarage Me to, one of the best looking factory steering wheels made in my opinion, but there just NOT very strong at all. And if you got a manual steering box ----- forget about it.
Given these original wheels are so hard to find nowadays, a Deluxe steering wheel that is repaired and repainted today is worth $2000 or more. I've seen just the center cap (with the Bird logo) go for $500 on Ebay. Today it's very easy to find and purchase a reproduction wood steering wheel (that was considered an option and more desirable in the day); but these original Deluxe Steering Wheels (as you mentioned) are almost worth the price of the whole car!
I really like how the deluxe wheel looks on the birds wanted to keep this one with the car. I understand why they might sell for $2k because the time involved to restore them.
great videos, thank you for posting your progress! On the center: why not tape the outside and fill from the inside so you have to sand less?
Great idea. If it was only a crack it would work great but the wheel also warped and distorted a bit. So I need to fill past the crack and sand it back into shape. Now the cracks on the outer rings your idea actually is a great one and I will try it next go around
Unfortunately, I would say that my steering wheel is beyond repair. Half of the plastic is missing, exposing the metal core.
Dang that is bad, still wouldn’t trash it.