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Steering wheel and other plastic parts restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:37 am
by Nissanman
I'm working on the s/wheel of my '65 SP310 ATM and I notice that the gloss level of the rim is really poor from the drivers side view, probably due to many years of UV radiation.
Fairlady 146.jpg
Does anyone have a procedure to rehabilitate this problem?
Metal rehab I can handle but plastic is new to moi.
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:08 am
by notoptoy
Check out Eastwood, they have kits for steering wheel restoration, they work well!
http://www.eastwood.com/steering-wheel- ... uller.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; they have other, complete kits with pullers.
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:21 pm
by greydog
When I rebuilt the wheel on our '69, I had several patches. Once all the filling was done, I used a few coats of red oxide sandable primer (rattle can Duplicolor) and followed up with a few coats of Rustoleum Satin Black.
It looks factory to me.
Dan
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:03 pm
by Roman
The plastic can be buffed back to a shine.. You might have to do some fine sanding with a 1500 grit to get off some of the dead oxidized plastic.
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:17 pm
by Linda
It will get better with wet sanding up to 2000. Did the same with the shift knob.
Then I switched to my wood wheel which I love.
Linda
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:24 pm
by Nissanman
OK, that all sounds good, thanks folks.
I want to get it nice and shiny again but not slippery
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:04 pm
by Nissanman
The plastic rim has been wet sanded with 1200 and 2000 grit paper, washed down with methylated spirits and polished with a plastic polish.
Looks new as!
The hub has been resprayed with gloss black and the spokes have been polished with a metal polish, Autosol.
Fairlady 150.jpg
The chrome hub and horn button are used parts but they are in such good condition I will use them as they are.
Total job cost: -
$4 for two sheets of sand paper, 1200 and 2000 grit.
A couple of hours of elbow grease.
Job done
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:15 pm
by notoptoy
Looks great, I'll take it!
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:42 am
by Linda
Looking good!
Linda
Re: Steering wheel restoration.
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:14 pm
by peter
well done, this looks like new.
Re: Steering wheel and other plastic parts restoration.
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:01 pm
by Nissanman
Following Linda's advice re sandpaper, I have re-finished all my plastic parts and they have come up like new.
I used wet #1200, then wet #2000, finishing with a wet green 3M scourer.
This treatment removes all the oxidised plastic which comes off as a brown deposit.
I then polish the parts with Autosol metal polish.
Parts that I have done to my satisfaction are, Niles switch handles, gearstick knob, steering column shroud.
Takes a bit of time and elbow grease but I was pleased as punch to see these parts glowing as it were.
As an aside, I used the same method on all the stainless steel trim and believe me, it worked wonders!
One little surprise was the heater, fresh air and Niles switch panels.
The more I polished the yellower they got.
So they went into the chroming box.
When my Electroplater saw them he said, they aren't stainless they are BRASS!
He buffed up one piece and sure enough, brass plate!
He said they will come up beautifully
