Hi - I'm looking to restore the EFFPI steering wheel from my 67 GT350 (#2751).
I think the wheel has been 'restored' in the past, as it appears to have lacquer/varnish on the wood rim and on the black plastic tabs that mount the spokes to the rim. I assume this to be 'wrong'...
Can anyone tell me if the wood rim was originally lacquered or was it raw wood with some kind of oil treatment?
Any advice much appreciated.
David
Contact Jeff Stephens, but I believe the black parts should also be polyurethaned. Chances are if it was restored, he did it, and correctly. He is the only man for the job. Is the wood showing age? Pictures?
Fran, what would make you assume he's the only one that does them and right? I know at least three. Jeff didn't do the wood grain on two weels right. We'll leave it at that.
-Keith
Really, what was wrong?
There was an outfit in Florida that I sent my wheel to about 18 years ago, they cut the wheel open at two of the spokes to weld them back to the rim, put the wood back in and refinished the entire wheel. It's been good ever since and you can't tell visually that anything like that was ever done. I just can't remember the name of them? Does anyone here recall them?
Believe their name was Specialty Wheel, Seffner, FL. Not sure they are still in business.
Quote from: ramrace on March 13, 2019, 11:27:46 AM
Believe their name was Specialty Wheel, Seffner, FL. Not sure they are still in business.
+1. Unfortunately they are not in business anymore.
The wood finishing part is actually pretty straightforward providing the wood itself isn't damage..Very time consuming however as you must sand fastidiously by hand with progressively fine grits of sandpaper..Also a lot of drying time if you use gunstock finish as it must dry completely between coats.I put on 20 plus coats so it adds up.Good luck!!!
Quote from: rcgt350 on March 13, 2019, 09:55:05 AM
There was an outfit in Florida that I sent my wheel to about 18 years ago, they cut the wheel open at two of the spokes to weld them back to the rim, put the wood back in and refinished the entire wheel. It's been good ever since and you can't tell visually that anything like that was ever done. I just can't remember the name of them? Does anyone here recall them?
This could have been written by me...
My wheel was also re-welded and refinished by a Florida firm over 20 years ago.
And upon looking at the box, yes -- Specialty Wheels did mine.
Weird, I have heard lots of good things about Jeff Stephens work on restoring wheels.
Quote from: Frankie on March 13, 2019, 08:41:17 AM
Really, what was wrong?
I might guess color. I see wheels in the attractive but incorrect reddish color.
I think they are supposed to be more of a yellow-brown
Quote from: Frankie on March 13, 2019, 05:48:00 PM
Weird, I have heard lots of good things about Jeff Stephens work on restoring wheels.
I had a wheel repaired and restore and two other guys had wheels restored by Jeff Stephens and we were all pleased with his work. The one car was in concours judging and won gold in Div II - no points off on the steering wheel.
I rest my case.
Just to add to conversation, there is a huge difference between restoring a wood wheel vs. refinishing.
Jon
Yes, I believe it was Speciality Wheel. Good people as I recall.
Found this in a similar thread on another forum
The contact information for Automotive Specialties:
Automotive specialties
Anthony Orlando
857 Nine Times Rd
Pickens, SC 29671-9236
(864) 878-1472
Anyone here use them?
Thanks everyone for your replies.
I will be refinishing the wheel myself as it is in pretty good shape and I believe I have the skills (I'm an Engineer).
My question is really about the lacquer finish on the wood rim. Were they finished this way from the factory or did they have an oiled/waxed finish?
If they were lacquered, did the lacquer extend to the black plastic tabs, or were they left 'natural' finish? I have looked at hundreds of photos on the interweb and some looked lacquered and some natural.
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks
David
I was please with my results from Jeff. Here was his information for future reference.
Quote from: Skidado on March 14, 2019, 09:15:03 AM
Thanks everyone for your replies.
I will be refinishing the wheel myself as it is in pretty good shape and I believe I have the skills (I'm an Engineer).
My question is really about the lacquer finish on the wood rim. Were they finished this way from the factory or did they have an oiled/waxed finish?
If they were lacquered, did the lacquer extend to the black plastic tabs, or were they left 'natural' finish? I have looked at hundreds of photos on the interweb and some looked lacquered and some natural.
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks
David. Birch wood Casey tru oil gunstock finish is what I used...Apply with your fingers and level with oooo steel wool between coats(and tack clean)...Very important that wheel is super smoothe(progressive grits of sandpaper)and clean before you start...Mask well!!!I put on like 25 coats and it looks dope...0000 steel wool will also remove fine scratches etc. on the stainless.Good luck!!!
Jeff is good, been doing it a long time. I believe he polys them so they are a strong finish. Hmmm an engineer? Oh boy, how many of you will it take to finish a wood wheel? LOL, that's a joke for your intellectual-ness-ness.
Here's how it looks pre-refurb
Remember what is behind the wheel that you cannot see in your pictures. that is just the front of it.
My wheel was way worse pre refinish..Just remember ALL of the old finish needs to come off...If you don't have bare wood the finish can't penetrate and you will have a mottled mess.Mask the spokes carefully with good painters tape to protect from sanding mistakes.Good luck!!
Stevens not only gouges but the grain was incorrect. Not inpressed, even more so with an 1800.00 price tag.
A couple WASAAC members have used this place....https://www.rightturnfab.com/ (https://www.rightturnfab.com/)
Quote from: s2ms on March 21, 2019, 03:51:24 PM
A couple WASAAC members have used this place....https://www.rightturnfab.com/ (https://www.rightturnfab.com/)
Dave, will they do restorations on genuine wheels or only sell their own version?
Jeff is good. I have seen much of his work over the years and its nice. Do what you gotta do with your wheel. I will be having a wheel done by Jeff as soon as he can take it in, I will post before pictures soon. BTW my wheel is broken it is in 2 pieces, the rim and the center. Obliterated is a nice word. This should be interesting.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on March 21, 2019, 05:41:10 PM
Dave, will they do restorations on genuine wheels or only sell their own version?
Bob, I've not used them myself but the one wheel I have seen was a restored original, it was really nice.