Steering wheel restoration

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josh
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Location: Vernon, CT
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Steering wheel restoration

Post by josh »

My fiat dino came with an aftermarket wheel, but i've found a leather-wrapped original which is correct for the car. It needs to be re-covered, however. The leather's pretty shot (and the wrong color for my car).

The leather is wrapped around the back of the wheel, into a groove on the front face, and is retained by a (fragile) plastic strip. This strip will need to be replaced, as about an inch of it has already snapped off, and I'm sure the rest won't survive being pried out of the groove.

Does anyone know of someone who can do this type of work? I stopped by a local upholsterer and they wouldn't touch it.

I probably won't get to this project until late this summer, or over the winter, but I wanted to try to get an idea of what I'm in for anyway.



--Josh
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1966 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet
1967 Fiat Dino Spider
http://www.hitchhiker.org/fiat/
volkster999
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 8:09 pm

Re: Steering wheel restoration

Post by volkster999 »

I've never had to do this, however I think I've seen ads in Hemmings for steering wheel restorations. Hope that helps.
Neil
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Racerrad
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Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:12 pm
Location: Lodi, CA

Re: Steering wheel restoration

Post by Racerrad »

Josh,

I have had a BMW steering wheel repaired at aglausa.com in Florida. They are leather specialists so they may be able to help. Good luck.

Rad
1963 250 GTE S/N 4221 w/ 330 engine.
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josh
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Re: Steering wheel restoration

Post by josh »

Thanks, i'll check them out.
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1966 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet
1967 Fiat Dino Spider
http://www.hitchhiker.org/fiat/
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tyang
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Re: Steering wheel restoration

Post by tyang »

Hi Josh,

I called my upholsterer and described your steering wheel to him, and he had never done one like this and wasn't confident in taking on the job. Sorry!

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
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josh
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Re: Steering wheel restoration

Post by josh »

Thanks for trying, Tom Y.. and thanks for the warning, Tom S... It seems to be an unusual way to do a wheel, from what i'm learning. It's actually simpler (there is no stitching at all), but if that plastic piece isn't easy to replace, it gets complicated.

--Josh
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1966 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet
1967 Fiat Dino Spider
http://www.hitchhiker.org/fiat/
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tyang
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Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 10:28 pm
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Re: Steering wheel restoration

Post by tyang »

With these old cars, if it was made once, then it can be made again. The only problem is how much effort you'll need to accomplish it!

I may try another upholsterer I know in Danbury. I'll let you know what I find.

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
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