Refurbish Steering Wheel and dash

[Imnvegas]

I have a '64 Monza convertible and my steering wheel is ini great shape but has a couple of chipped areas of paint or coating. I would like to remove the original coating and re-do it. Is it powdercoating or paint? Would sand-blasting work? Also what do you do with the small chrome circles on the wheel?

I also have the padded dash. I would like to remove it and go back to the '63 look of the painted metal dash. Is there an easy way to accomplish this or is it just get in there rip the dash away, sand and repaint it.

Thanks

[65corvaircopnj]

For the steering wheel I HIGHLY recommend getting a puller to remove it. Best $10 you'll spend. I'll
Just tell you that my experience with redoing my wheel was pretty easy. Just like everything else take your time and pay attn to detail. I left the chrome rings on but taped them, trimming and tucking with a very sharp/ new xacto blade. I used some rattle can poly which has held up pretty well. I'd try to use something harder or more durable if you can. As far as the dash goes, LM are easier bc of the fasteners holding the pad on. Not positive but I think earlies are held on with really tough glue and the radio speaker bezel? Someone help out with this one.
Oh don't paint over the center metal of the wheel, it is integral sight the horn contacts. Good luck

[Imnvegas]

Is the steering wheel metal? it seems like it but it is light weight. I am wondering if it could be powder coated....

[ncwitte]

I think it's plastic around a metal ring. It can be painted using conventional paints. You can repair cracks with a variety of epoxy products. Here's a thread that might prove helpful:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/show ... ight=wheel

[vairy nuts]

The early steering wheel is actually a hard rubber that is painted - that's why they show black when worn. Not sure if late steering wheels are the hard rubber or plastic - all have a metal ring inside. The cracks can be filled with epoxy putty, then prime and paint. Don't use epoxy paint - tried it and it will end up cracking. I did my 2 tone '63 monza steering wheel using lacquer duplicolor primer and then duplicolor touch up colors close to the originals ( lt beige and dk beige metallic colors ). Cover in a good clear - 2 part urethane is the best. I used duplicolor lacquer clear and then Rustoleum Painters touch clear. Found out putting the Painter's touch over any type metallic paint messed up the metallic - ends up blotchy - so that's why I used the duplicolor clear first - can skip it if using non metallic colors. I just masked the trim rings same as mentioned above but they also come off pretty easily and just glue back on - epoxy or rtv.

The early dash pad is glued on as mentioned, there is no speaker bezel used on the non padded dash so the bezel holes need to be filled. The ash tray and perimeter dash trim is the same for padded/unpadded dashes.

[cdyoung]

Hi, I'm David Young and have a 64 Monza. Your post is great and very informative. How do I get the exact paint colors for the two tone steering wheel on my corvair. I have looked on www.oldride and the colors look like medium and dark saddle. Can I buy these exact colors from duplicolor? The identiplate shows color code 705. My colors are listed in three posts prior under the title saddle tan interior and the pictures of my interior are in there. Any help you could give me would be appreciated, I am in currently in the Netherlands with the wheel and want to paint it prior to the convention in July
Thank you

[bbodie52]

I found this instructional Web site that appears to have some solid guidelines and material sources that may help you to get the job done. The repair processes (if needed) and the final clear coat product identified in the article may permit you to utilize proper color-matched paint and then protect that paint with a solid protective clear coat.

Hope this information helps.

AutoTrader Classics: How to Keep Your Original Steering Wheel!
http://www.autotraderclassics.com/car-a ... 8572.xhtml

SOURCES

Eastwood Products
(800) 343-9353
http://www.eastwood.com

National Parts Depot
(800) 521-6104
http://www.npdlink.com

Clark's Corvair Parts - Steering Wheel Parts
http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... age=NOS-13

[terribleted]

One good way to get very very close to the original colors is to visit a good auto paint supplier (store which supplies body repair shops). Take the wheel with you. A good paint man should be able to match the existing colors very closely in current materials.

[devinhealey]

One good way to get very very close to the original colors is to visit a good auto paint supplier (store which supplies body repair shops). Take the wheel with you. A good paint man should be able to match the existing colors very closely in current materials.

I am totally agree with this.