Well, this is not fun!!  However, the cracks are filled and most of the sanding done.  I ended up using JB Weld plastic weld.  It filled the cracks good, but harder than heck to sand.  Used the dremel with sanding drum to get the bulk of it off.  Gotta have a light touch using the dremel because it will gouge where you don't want it to in a heartbeat (wonder how I know that)!!!!  Trying to determine the next step:  primer, filler primer, or?  I'm going to go to a body shop in town and ask them.  Also, thinking of painting it semi-gloss.

I tried to add a pic of the wheel at this stage, but for some reason it's not transferring from my phone to the Mac.  Pic of the JB Plastic Weld is attached.

Stay tuned!!

Jerry once your happy with the repairs go primer/ filler. i did 3 layers of primer and wet sanded between each coat, before i was happy with the surface. i used grits all the way down to 1500

top coat i used, hammerite gloss ..... it took nearly a week to dry hard !!

 

one tip.... i used a round piece of wooden dowel and wrapped my sand paper around it when doing all the finger bumps.... all 49 thousand of them !!! hahahaha

Thanks Kiwi for the info.  Not sure what hammerite gloss is??  Here is my progress so far.

here ya go Jerry

https://www.hammerite.com/

this paint is super durable, i have used it for years and its never let me down

Hammerite isn't sold in the US.  Bought my primer filler yesterday so the agony continues today!

Jerry as far as paint concerns go, I think you pick and choose what ever you want. Two schools of thought here:

1. Base coat / clear coat. If you choose this route, I'd put on 3-5 layers of clear coat, knowing that the steering wheel be touched and perhaps get some light ring finger scratches in it over time. Enough layers it can buff out.

2. Single stage paint. Obviously no clear, just be sure to put on enough layers to cover any minor scratches that many develop over time.

Did your steering wheel have any sort of metallic or glitter in it originally or was it a straight gloss black? If it did, then I'd go with base/clear.

Well, I thought I had done a good job of sanding until I put the primer/filler on!  Whoa; I may not have any wheel left when I finish sanding.

Frosty, it was straight gloss black.  Will probably do a spray epoxy if I ever get to that point! 

Have a great weekend.

yip !!! that is exactly what happened when i put the first coat of primer on!!!..... more sanding mate lots more sanding!!!! 

 then lots more again!! 

my tip.... beer helps!!!

Hey Jerry, nice work so far bro. Justa thought, if you do go with a base/clear like Frosty mentioned check out High Teck 7000 clear coat. It's more of an "insurance job" clear. By that I mean It's cheap bro, BUT it's hard as hell and sets up fast. Clarity is good it's just not PPG show clear good. Good luck with the rest of the project. Can't wait to see the end result. 

Well, here it is!  Perfect no, much better, yes.  Finally said I was never going to get it perfect, so I quit!  I used VHT epoxy paint.  Four coats and will do a couple more after 48 hours.  Nice shine and went on evenly.

So what have I learned?  1.  Don't do this again!  2.  Pay someone to do it!  3.  Use a more sandable epoxy- that crap is HARD.  4.  Be more careful with the dremel sanding drum.  5.  Buy more Crown Royal and Coke!

Appreciate all the input from you guys.

Beautiful job.  Well worth the effort!  Can't tell me your not proud of that.

Jerry !!!!well done mate 🍻🍻🍻🍻

welcome to the “been there done that “steering wheel restorers  sub club of forever Pontiac !!! 

Thanks again for the help and suggestions!  Now to get my clock working............

Jerry, just think, at the next car show you are at, you have a new story to tell! You latest adventures of Crown Royal and Coke to all your pals! I’m sure they are a sympathetic lot, right? 😂

Hell I just want a crown and coke!  Seriously, good job she looks great Jerry

Jerry, I'm with Wrongway on two things:

1. You did a fine job and you have a great looking wheel that you can take pride in.

2. I want a Crown Royal and Coke too.

Wheel is back on!  Pics of before and after.

Hi Jerry, great job you did there. When I had my '56 Bel Air my steering wheel was like yours, but I sent it out to be repaired and painted. So good on you for fixing it and making it such a great job.

Now onto the clock. The one in the Star Chief wasn't working, so I purchased a quartz clock kit and converted it over. No more issues, and it keeps great time too! If you are interested I can let you know the details of the conversion.

Man, I love those turn signal indicators!

KiwiStarChief, I would be interested in a link to that conversion. I know it's probably different then the clock in my 63', but I still need to get my clock working and maybe they have something that would work.

9 hours ago, Wrongway said:

Man, I love those turn signal indicators!

KiwiStarChief, I would be interested in a link to that conversion. I know it's probably different then the clock in my 63', but I still need to get my clock working and maybe they have something that would work.

I like the gas peddle!!!!!!   POWER 

Russell, I would love to see the clock conversion info!  Thanks

Yeah Justa, I hadn't noticed that until you pointed it out. POWER, that's awesome!

On 1/22/2022 at 3:19 AM, WASHTUBMAN said:

Russell, I would love to see the clock conversion info!  Thanks

Hi Jerry, here is the thread from Trifive.com that details the clock conversion process that I followed.

https://www.trifive.com/threads/diy-55-56-custom-clock.49041/