Restoring a Steering Wheel:

[Amigo2k]

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been restoring my original Beetle steering wheel that I had in a box-o-parts that came with the car.

I used this website as a reference:

http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqstrg.htm

Grind out the big cracks, JB weld in the big cracks, bondo the small imperfections. Sand, Bondo, sand bondo. Prime, bondo sand. Prime bondo sand. Prime sand, Prime sand

[img]http://walkerdowney.com/VW/1.JPG[/img]

[img]http://walkerdowney.com/VW/2.JPG[/img]

[img]http://walkerdowney.com/VW/3.JPG[/img]

[img]http://walkerdowney.com/VW/4.JPG[/img]

Only 1 coat of the White shell paint so far:

[img]http://walkerdowney.com/VW/5.JPG[/img]

I think I’ll have about 12 hours into it after 2 more coats of paint.

Now I just need to order up a horn button and rip off the after market Grant Steering wheel that is on there now…

If I have time before the MATC thing I have a couple of other parts I’m planning on installing too… icon_scratch.gif

Topic

[Garibaldi]

Wow, it looks like it is coming along great! Thanks for all the up close shots, keep us appraised!

[GTO Man]

It looks good, it gives you a real sense of accomplishment when you can do something like that yourself. What type of filler do you use on that, also what kind of paint will you use?

[Amigo2k]

The big cracks i used JB Weld. There is a clay like product made by POR15 that is suppose to work well too.

the pinkish reddish stuff is just typical bondo that I used to fill in the imperfections.

Then I shot it with 4 coats of automotive gray primer. With sanding and filling as needed.

Then I shot it with Rustolium for plastic (shell white color), wet sanded it with 1000, and tonight I shot it again with the same color. Tomorrow I’ll do the same, and then it should be good to go.

[Anonymous]

Amigo2K, You do good work!

With all the care, attention and time you have put into the wheel up to paint stage, your finished wheel will be awesome. I have heard it said that anyone can paint, but everyone forgets about what it takes to get a piece actually ready for paint. I am guessing 95% prep work, and 5% paint?

Marshall

[Amigo2k]

Marshall is right on. The paint time is pretty quick. It is all about the prep time.

Overall I’m happy with the way it turned out. Now I just need to find the time to install it once I have the horn in hand.

[Garibaldi]

Taking the extra time with the prep will pay off in the long run; better to spend the time then and do it right and thoroughly. Grab a pic once you have it installed! thumbsup.gif

[Amigo2k]

There was only a little drama to installing it when I thought a plastic bushing had slid down the shaft, but I couldn’t see it with a flash light and I ran a coat hanger down the tube to see if i could run into it, but I didn’t hit anything.

Then I looked down on the new steering wheel and noticed it was still on it from my test fit.

So it is on now and the horn button even works too.

Old:

[img]https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/rendres/web/1958/wheelb.JPG[/img]

After:

[img]https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/rendres/web/1958/wheela.JPG[/img]

[GTO Man]

The restored steering wheel looks great. Is that the one that is original to the car?

[Amigo2k]

Yup that is the original 50 year old one.

That style is found in the 56-59 Beetle.

[Anonymous]

Nicely done! I love wood wheels, but you just can’t beat the look of original equipment.

Marshall

[jonmandude]

That looks amazing. Just like Marshall’s center console, big improvement. And the best part is those improvements are ones that you notice while driving.

[Author]

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