330 GT Wood Wheel Restoration

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enio45
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330 GT Wood Wheel Restoration

Post by enio45 »

Any recommendations to have my orig wheel restored? Looks like i have a slight crack along the wood grain on the left side of the wheel. The rest of the wheel is perfect but i can feel the seperation starting.

I remember 3-4 yrs ago a guy at the CA show that set up a display with his work which looked fantastic . . at about 800 a wheel to restore it. I can find his card anymore...

Any thoughts?
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
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Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

Ed,

I believe Zac or Tom S. can recommend someone on your steering wheel. I believe I saw the restored steering wheel on the GTE that Zac is working on at the Quail Lodge show. There was a display of restored steering wheels in Tom's booth and they all looked fabulous.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
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tyang
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Post by tyang »

Hi Ed,

There's a guy in NY (Nyack?) that restores Nardi Wheels. I think I remember seein his ads in the usual Ferrari publications.

I had pretty good success in restoring my own wheel. the loose lamination can be fixed with diluted wood glue worked into the crack, clamping the wheel overnight.

The interesting thing is the color of the finish. After doing mine and looking at many over the years, I've often wondered what the correct color of the finish should be. Clear Varnish looks yellow as it's layered on the wheel which shows up when it covers the aluminum rim. Modern clear finishes are clear so the aluminum looks neutral white under the finish. I felt the original finish was probably a little yellow, but am curious what others have?

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
enio45
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Post by enio45 »

Thanks TOM and TOM...

I will look my wheel over to see if i can give some thoughts on the orig finish... ill also take some pics before i do anythng with it..

How did you dilute the glue - did u use liquid nails or something like that? I alway thought if you can get it into a syringe and pass it thru a needle that can be squeezed in between the wood seperations, that do the trick?
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
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330GT
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Post by 330GT »

I've been pretty successful using an air gun to blow Elmer's undiluted glue into a crack in wood. Have the pressure pretty low (~20 PSI), put some glue on the crack and blow from each side so the glue ends up where you want it. I also carefully pry the crack open near the ends so I can try and get the glue right were the crack starts. Then clamp the crack closed, wiping off any excess glue.

But from my experience on a Ferrari steering wheel using Elmer's, the crack will eventually break again as Elmer's doesn't bond to the aluminum inside and there isn't enough wood outside of the aluminum rim to hold. I haven't tried any other adhesives.

The other thing to never do with a wood Ferrari steering wheel is to pull on the outside while trying to adjust your seat forward. That's how my wheel got cracked. Instead, grasp one of the three spokes near the center when adjusting the seat.
Regards, Kerry
http://www.330gt.com 330 GT Registry
http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari 250 PF Coupe 1643GT, 330 GT 2+2 8755GT, 308 GTS 23605
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tyang
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Post by tyang »

Hi Ed,

I diluted carpenter's glue with some water and carefully pried open the crack with a x-acto knife.

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
David Smith
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Post by David Smith »

Mark Wallach is the person in Nyack who does wood restoration. Very interesting fellow to talk to. He has been around for a long time. He did my wheel and I am very happy with the results.
1967 330 GTC #9313
enio45
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Post by enio45 »

Tom S.......who do you use or do you recommend? How much would estimate a fair price to do one?

Thanks for you time..
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
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T308
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Post by T308 »

shaughnessy wrote:Again, send it to me
I will estimate the job, before we start.
Most likely under $500
Turn around 2-3 weeks

Thank you
Not a bad price. I paid $550 in 2001 (Paul Craft did it), I'm sure it's gone up since then.

T308
1962 250 GT/E 3921, 1978 308 GTS 26845
xs10shl
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Post by xs10shl »

I had one rebuilt by TS with pretty much just the metal frame, and it came out perfect - new wood and all.

Think of it as a big black box: wheel and $500 goes to Tom; wheel comes back 1 month later, good as new. In the meantime you can spend your own time debugging the electrics ;^)
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