Steering Wheel Re-Wrap?
Thread Starter
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Steering Wheel Re-Wrap?
Anyone found a good source to re-wrap their wheels at a fair price and a fairly original look? I've got a '78 Oyster wheel that needs some love.
Cheers, Greg
Cheers, Greg
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
If you find someone who actually does a good job and matches the factory fine stitching let me know. I am still hanging onto my original wheel. The cover is great but the padding under it failed. Never did find anyone, ended up purchasing a repro wheel. Stitching is way to extra wide. Has a hard, not padded feel. Totally not happy with it.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,680
Likes: 3,134
From: Shamong, NJ
Chuck Pelton was the go too guy for steering wheel recovering, but I haven't seen or heard anything of him in a few years. He use to be a Forum member, but a quick look at his profile shows he was last here in March 2018. The (very old) busines card I have for him lists is phone number as 248-681-4336. The card doesn't have an email, but I think his email is (was?) chuckpelton@comcast.net.
Corvette America recovers the 77-82 wheels, it costs about $250. Al Knoch might recover wheels too.
https://www.autoaccessoriesofamerica...ering-service/
Corvette America recovers the 77-82 wheels, it costs about $250. Al Knoch might recover wheels too.
https://www.autoaccessoriesofamerica...ering-service/
Thread Starter
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Yes, I saw that CA recovers them but for $250 I can buy a whole new wheel, which I'm trying to avoid.
Maybe I'll talk to my upholstery guy and see if he has any ideas.
Maybe I'll talk to my upholstery guy and see if he has any ideas.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 319
Likes: 125
From: Midwest
Here's what I have to offer. I bought a rewrapped steering wheel for my '79 in the Spring of 2011 from Corvette Central to replace the cracked and faded one in the car. The car I purchased six months earlier.
I still have the wheel I took out of the car 12 years ago, which I believe is original to the car. When I read your question, I found my old steering wheel and compared earlier today it to the newer one I have in the car. I'm not an upholstery guy, but I looked at the two wheels carefully and cannot perceive any difference between them (other than condition). The thread and stitching appear identical to my eye.
Regarding condition, the newer one still looks new because the car never sits out in the sun for long periods. The newer one also feels softer to the touch, both the leather itself and the padding beneath it. Of course, what feels good to one person may not to another. It looks and feels great to me. The color is Doeskin and matches the rest of the interior well. Of course, even when these cars were new, they did not have perfectly matching color shades on interior parts.
Corvette Central presently offers a steering wheel rewrapping service for $245.30 plus $75 core charge. But that was not the route I took. In any case, I hope my experience helps in some way.
I still have the wheel I took out of the car 12 years ago, which I believe is original to the car. When I read your question, I found my old steering wheel and compared earlier today it to the newer one I have in the car. I'm not an upholstery guy, but I looked at the two wheels carefully and cannot perceive any difference between them (other than condition). The thread and stitching appear identical to my eye.
Regarding condition, the newer one still looks new because the car never sits out in the sun for long periods. The newer one also feels softer to the touch, both the leather itself and the padding beneath it. Of course, what feels good to one person may not to another. It looks and feels great to me. The color is Doeskin and matches the rest of the interior well. Of course, even when these cars were new, they did not have perfectly matching color shades on interior parts.
Corvette Central presently offers a steering wheel rewrapping service for $245.30 plus $75 core charge. But that was not the route I took. In any case, I hope my experience helps in some way.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 121
Likes: 69
From: Leander, Texas
I covered my own on my '73, and it looks pretty darn good in my opinion.
Got it from https://wheelskins.com/
About $65, leather, and not very hard to do. Just takes a little time. If your fingers are younger than mine, it will take even less time.
Got it from https://wheelskins.com/
About $65, leather, and not very hard to do. Just takes a little time. If your fingers are younger than mine, it will take even less time.
