Robert Saigh
Senior Member
Looking for a 1971-74 Imperial/New Yorker tilt steering wheel with horn bar/cover/pad. Blue in color, no cracks. Bob
1971-1974 Imperial/New Yorker Tilt Steering Wheel
- Thread starter Robert Saigh
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330dTA
Senior Member
I believe there are zero tilt&tele steering wheels with no cracks on the market. The Chrysler tilt & telescope steering wheel was made of a variety of plastic (polypropylene?) that is bound to shrink and crack. Pretty badly. For some reason many of the standard wheels seem to have lasted better. Different blend of plastic, I presume.
I had my cracked wheel restored by Woodgrainwheels in IN. Turned out better than new.
I had my cracked wheel restored by Woodgrainwheels in IN. Turned out better than new.
Robert Saigh
Senior Member
Man that's nice!! Thanks for posting it....can u say what the cost was?
More than a grand....
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Gary's Steering Wheel Restoration - Plastic & Wood Wheel Restoration for Your Classic or Muscle Car
Services & Pricing
All restorations take approximately 4 to 8 weeks to complete, and your satisfaction is guaranteed! Gary’s Steering Wheel Restoration has proudly produced show-quality steering wheel restorations for over 20 years.
Each wheel is evaluated and priced individually according to its condition. For a free estimate, send the wheel to us and we will call you with a price. If we agree to the estimate, then we can begin restoration. If not, Gary’s will return your wheel -- at no charge to you. A deposit is required prior to starting the restoration.
The typical price range of a color steering wheel is $350 to $1,200, with an average of $475, depending on the condition and types of cracks. For specialty wheels, some average costs are:
Services & Pricing
Each wheel is evaluated and priced individually according to its condition. For a free estimate, send the wheel to us and we will call you with a price. If we agree to the estimate, then we can begin restoration. If not, Gary’s will return your wheel -- at no charge to you. A deposit is required prior to starting the restoration.
The typical price range of a color steering wheel is $350 to $1,200, with an average of $475, depending on the condition and types of cracks. For specialty wheels, some average costs are:
- '64 - '67 Corvette wood grain, $275-350
- Mopar wood grain, $400
- Mopar Rim Blow, $400 (plus $190 w/ new switch)
- GTO wood grain, $400
- '56 - '62 Corvette, $425
Robert Saigh
Senior Member
Those are the same quotes I got from this guy and a couple others were a little cheaper. But that wheel up above is very nice! Decent price for Rim-Blow I believe. The $1000-$1200 figure is for recasting a wheel.
330dTA
Senior Member
If I recall correctly the cost was $500 for the restoration and $125 for the rimblow switch. This was 2011 i.e. five years ago. Plus shipping there and back. Shipping to US was 40 euros.
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Reach out to the steering wheel restorers and find out
Robert Saigh
Senior Member
1978 NYB: You got another wheel next to that one? Actually, the wheel you showed isn't as bad as the ones I've seen and have been repaired. They ct out the cracks and clean the wedged out cracks and then they use a two or three part epoxy plastics. Fill the cracks then sand with different sand papers, clean with certain solutions. Primer and paint and bake....Then finish by polishing. Those are the basic steps I'm told. Hemmings has a list in "Services"....there's 6-7 listed!
I'm with 1978 NYB...that wheel would need a re-cast. What is likely present and not showing up in the pic is dozens of small spider cracks throughout. My 77 T&C wheel has them throughout the centre section and will need to be recast. Just saving up before I bite the bullet.
On the rim blow that was restored, did they do the centre pad too, or merely the wheel?
On the rim blow that was restored, did they do the centre pad too, or merely the wheel?
My steering wheel is already done....
Replaced with a blue leather wrapped wheel from a 77 Daytona Charger. Just womdering what the cost is now. I asked a vendor at Carlisle a couple of years back and he said $900.
You can't
There are two types of steering wheel "restoration".
Only one would I call a real restoration with the other being actually a repair.
You can chisel out the cracks, refill them with epoxy ( which shrinks and expands at a different rate than the original material that its trying to bond to) and paint on a coating, OR, you can do it correctly by recasting the bare spine with the correct color impregnated material.
As shown HERE.
Only one would I call a real restoration with the other being actually a repair.
You can chisel out the cracks, refill them with epoxy ( which shrinks and expands at a different rate than the original material that its trying to bond to) and paint on a coating, OR, you can do it correctly by recasting the bare spine with the correct color impregnated material.
As shown HERE.
Robert Saigh
Senior Member
Very informative....Thanks for posting the above! I guess the difference on repair and restoration would depend on how much you want to spend, how long the repair would last under normal circumstances and weather the vehicle is valuable enough to warrant the expense.
I think that if you don't do anything else to a classic car....the steering wheel needs to be kind of squared away. Maybe a nice used one or a recast if you can swing it. My steering wheel was so bad that I had a chunk of flesh taken out of palm twice by force of habit by letting the steering return back to center by letting it slide through my hand. I was very, very lucky to have great friends here on FCBO (Mr. C, Stan and others) that seen a smashed (tree fell on A-Pillar) 77 Daytona Charger in Pennsylvania with a blue leather wrapped steering wheel. My parts catalog said it wouldn't fit. A lot of discussion here on FCBO. Different shaft diameters, different spline patterns and teeth, etc., won't have the correct machining for telescoping lever. For $50 (cost of the Charger steering wheel) I took a chance and went and got the steering wheel. The steering wheel fit except the acrylic hub on the back side had to be machined about 1/2" so the steering wheel would sit deep enough on the column so I could put the nut on the shaft and lock down the steering wheel. Lucky me.......I now have a "ONE OF NONE" blue leather wrapped steering wheel on a 1978 NYB.
Robert Saigh
Senior Member
1978 NYB: Ya I saw that wheel previously. I'm still looking, hoping I find something.... but in no hurry! A really bad cracked wheel really does take away from the overall look of the interior's
front compartment. I also like to see well kept not cracked weather stripping!
front compartment. I also like to see well kept not cracked weather stripping!
Well, well, well... That weatherstripping is another whole story in itself. I'm too tired. Let Combat Bob splain it to ya.
Robert Saigh
Senior Member
Still looking for a T & T wheel from 71 to '74....blue or black....Any suggestions?
No weatherstripping available on the planet on 4 door HT Formals.
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