New skin for my '86 steering wheel
04-04-2013, 12:01 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
New skin for my '86 steering wheel
My old steering wheel leather had some sunburn on it when I purchased the Vette years ago. I've tried to keep better care of it but the damage was done, now it's older. I know there are products available to fill and smooth/repair the cracks (about $70+ ). I decided a better option was a Redline Leather Goods steering wheel cover. I ended up prototyping mine, because Redline didn't have a pattern for the 1986-1989 wheel.
I went with a Napa grain leather with red stitching to match my Redline Leather Goods shift boot installed (10yrs) earlier. The cross stitch, that laces the machine stitch, was also to be red (Redline supplied), but it was looking too much red (Ricer-ish?) for me so I procured some heavier black thread locally. In all it came out pretty nice.
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I went with a Napa grain leather with red stitching to match my Redline Leather Goods shift boot installed (10yrs) earlier. The cross stitch, that laces the machine stitch, was also to be red (Redline supplied), but it was looking too much red (Ricer-ish?) for me so I procured some heavier black thread locally. In all it came out pretty nice.
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Last edited by DanZ51; 04-04-2013 at 11:58 PM.
04-04-2013, 10:36 PM
#3
Safety Car
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Location: Fredonia WI
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2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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That's nice work.
Did you put this on yourself?
Did you put this on yourself?
04-04-2013, 11:50 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Thanks.
Yup, I clamped a bolt/wingnut to a Work Mate bench and spent some "therapeutic time" with the wheel
'Glued the front part of the spoke leather in place and started stitching; working the leather into place. About four hours of actual work (I'm slow).
Yup, I clamped a bolt/wingnut to a Work Mate bench and spent some "therapeutic time" with the wheel
'Glued the front part of the spoke leather in place and started stitching; working the leather into place. About four hours of actual work (I'm slow).
Last edited by DanZ51; 04-04-2013 at 11:53 PM.
04-05-2013, 09:26 AM
#7
Geez i assumed you had that done. It came out perfect. If had tried to do that it would have looked like something from Bizzaro World.
04-05-2013, 12:00 PM
#8
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
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St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Just curious, how many hours did you spend?
Looks great!
Looks great!
04-05-2013, 12:02 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I had my apprehensions before hand...
But I thought about a "plan of attack" and went for it. It was actually pretty easy.
I do highly recommend rigging up some type of work stand like I did or you will drive yourself nuts
Also key is some 3M spray adhesive to position the spoke leather/seam in place exactly where it needs to be.
Last edited by DanZ51; 04-05-2013 at 12:05 PM.
04-05-2013, 12:09 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
04-05-2013, 03:17 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter