Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Trans Am Tech => Interior => Topic started by: lee01 on December 29, 2010, 05:41:14 PM
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First off....this post was made with a Buick Grand National steering, but its the same procedure for most old GM.
My leather on original steering wheel was pretty ugly plus there a piece missing a few scratches etc...
A new rewrap cost about 200$
So here the how to redo a beauty on your wheel cheaply for under 40$
The key ingredient is cyanoacrylate and 'What the h*ll is that you say????' (well its simply humm...Krazy glue, yup )
Krazy glue will blend to the leather/vinyl and keeping it all together. Your steering wheel will remain quite soft (if I may say).
It took me about 3 hours on and off to get it ready to paint. I very happy of the final result!
My steering looked like this, wasn't pretty at all :
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/DSCF1008-3.jpg)
Ok here what you need:
Sandpaper 80, 180 and 220
1x tube of Krazy glue
Some degreaser like brake clean or spray nine
Couple of hours of your free time.
First thing to do:
Clean your wheel with the degreaser, make sure its clean and oil free
Then use the 80 grit sand paper and scuff you repair area.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherfix.jpg)
Next use the Krazy clue to fill the little cracks. For bigger hole, its little by little, you need to built it up meaning a little at a time. Let it dry, put a little more and so on.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherfix1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherfix2.jpg)
------ Little tip here: Use the Krazy glue in thin coat only, this way you will have less runs and lot more easy to sand.
Next sand with the 180- grit sandpaper. Fallow the contour on the wheel and look for ridges and high/low spot. Always try to blend (key word for this job!!!)
This part is a repeat step many times...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherfix3.jpg)
Next, use more Krazy over the complete area. Again in thin coat.
------- Next tip: You don't want to see and feel the skin under the vinyl or leather (white stuff under the grey leather) because it will show on the finish product. You want a smooth surface.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherfix4.jpg)
Next, almost done preping.
Recoat the repair area with another thin coat and sand with 220 grit sandpaper. Sand/Scuff all your steering vinyl or eather to help the paint stick. You want a smooth feel without any visible marking/scuff....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherfix5.jpg)
Notice how the missing pieces is now filled and smooth.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherfix6.jpg)
Next, clean the steering again with alcool base product like brake clean
then apply the paint in thin coat only. Repeat 3-5 times depending on your steering. I personnaly applied 4 coats of SEM color match paint.
Speaking of paint; I used a custom mix SEM aerosol spray can base on a 1983 Buick leather sample. My local parts store did the mix. SEM its the best stuff out there (personal opinion and experience)
Here the result! Look like new again!
My total cost:
30.00$ for the SEM spray can
4 hours of labors
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherafter.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/lee01/Auto%20Nikkonos/leatherafter2.jpg)
Hope this help!!!
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That came out really nice. You cant see the repair at all in the photo.
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Very nice. Great tips.
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Why did you change the horn emblem?
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First off, this turned out great! Just a question on this repair, how does the super glue hold up to the sponginess of the steering wheel, or is the grand national steering wheel not very flexible? The reason for my question is that super glue and most other cyanoacrylates are brittle when the cure. I looked through your pictures and the project turned out great- I don't contest that at all. I am trying to reconcile how this would work with the very flexible material in my steering wheel....
Thanks,
Greg
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Why did you change the horn emblem?
When back to a cleaner original look.
The emblem was ''too much'' for the black/gray interieur
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First off, this turned out great! Just a question on this repair, how does the super glue hold up to the sponginess of the steering wheel, or is the grand national steering wheel not very flexible? The reason for my question is that super glue and most other cyanoacrylates are brittle when the cure. I looked through your pictures and the project turned out great- I don't contest that at all. I am trying to reconcile how this would work with the very flexible material in my steering wheel....
Thanks,
Greg
About two year later, when I sold my GN, is was still looking great.
The GN wheel are ''stiff'' compare to a T/A wheel.
There's a flexible seam sealer that could work too. Can't remember the name right now, but its a paintable sealer that remain somewhat soft.
See, still looking nice!
(http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/Skomlee/4%20sale/File0049.jpg)
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Great job lee01,
Could you give the paint code that you used for the SEM paint? And any other info. that the local SEM supplier would need to get the same stuff you used? Did it come in its own spray can? Or did you need to use an airbrush? I ask b/c you have a perfect match to the GN grey!
Thanks