steering wheel shortening - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Doug's68SS · 04-08-2015, 12:48 PM

search 67-72chevytrucks.com at the topf the screen for "Don Smith Original steering wheel, steering wheel down size" it has some good info.

RManson · 04-08-2015, 01:14 PM

I reduced the size of my '68 wheel down from 17-inches to around 15 a few years back and covered the process in Custom Classic Trucks. Used the aforementioned Eastwood kit. It's time consuming but I'm really happy with the result as it looks factory and isn't so awkward to steer now. You can read the whole story here for free!

texjake · 04-08-2015, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 TT

Maybe making a silicone mold of a good section of the wheel could save you some work there. It could help rough in the finger rib profile so there was much less finish work to do. It could also copy the spoke to rim transition as well but you already cut that apart.

I know there was another build thread where the guy had his steering wheel modified to make it smaller diameter but can't remember his project name or his screen name. Something with ZL1 in the screen name if I remember right. Very cool truck with tons of mods, a custom frame and stock car brakes.

I'm already there. I'm making a mold from an existing steering wheel & hoping all turns out well.

texjake · 04-14-2015, 02:34 AM

Progress report & pics. I did not get the mold completed yet & just started applying the epoxy on this steering wheel. Waiting for cure time, then it's time for lots of sanding & apply some bondo to fill any low spots, then 3 primer coats & then 3 coats of paint & clear coat. The lighting gives it an illusion of weird shapes or angles on the spoke(s), once it's finished & painted it wont be noticeable.

texjake · 04-16-2015, 11:54 PM

I finally got around to sanding the PC-7 epoxy. I let it set up real good for about 3 days. It's looking better than I expected but still needs alot of work to be near perfect.

**michael bustamante** · 04-17-2015, 10:48 AM

tex dont forget i got a good doner for you to work on too. i gotta see about shipping it to you
lookin good too
Rmanson. i remember reading that link a while back. i bet i still have the issue. its too bad that mag got dicsontinued

leftybass209 · 04-17-2015, 06:01 PM

Is it the pictures, or is that wheel more oblong shaped?

texjake · 04-17-2015, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftybass209

Is it the pictures, or is that wheel more oblong shaped?

I'm sure it's the pics because I had to rotate them (from landscape to portrait) & resize them after taking pics of the wheel with my iPhone. You had me scared thinking something was wrong, because I built it in a jig & that I know for a fact that it is perfectly symmetrical.

texjake · 04-29-2015, 10:20 PM

I'm finally getting somewhere with this & I am happy with the results! Time to wet sand & then apply one more coat of black. Don't be fooled by the contour & reflection in the last pic, it is not crooked on the bottom Y spoke. You can see that is isn't in the first pic. Have a blessed day!

Andy4639 · 04-30-2015, 03:07 AM

Looking good man! Nice clean job.

serge · 04-30-2015, 09:04 AM

Would love the same for my truck but I'm not a welder, bodyman or painter.
Will definitely give it some thought.
Thanks for sharing the process.

texjake · 04-30-2015, 04:02 PM

Thanks man! It's been a labor of love. I know it's not perfect (to my higher standards of quality of work) but now I know NOT what to do on the next one...lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Looking good man! Nice clean job.

ho70 · 04-30-2015, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texjake

Thanks man! It's been a labor of love. I know it's not perfect (to my higher standards of quality of work) but now I know NOT what to do on the next one...lol

The time you spent, knowing what not to do is another one....lol.....very nice job

texjake · 04-30-2015, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ho70

The time you spent, knowing what not to do is another one....lol.....very nice job

Excellent analogy! But unfortunately, I've got do at least do 5 more, guys are waiting patiently for theirs. All work & no play could make Jake a rich man! lol

texjake · 04-30-2015, 07:49 PM

Better pics I hope, in the sun & in the shade. The orangeist color or red in the last pic is a reflection, not burn thru.

elf w/capital T · 09-22-2016, 06:55 PM

looks great!!! going to do this!! any photos of the resized wheel installed?

Andy4639 · 09-22-2016, 07:21 PM

Any updates with photos would be great.

elf w/capital T · 03-18-2018, 11:45 AM

That is amazing! Nice job

Problems · 03-18-2018, 02:19 PM

What’s a good size for the wheel? Does a 14” look stupid small?

04-08-2015, 12:48 PM	#26
Doug's68SS Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canton, Tx Posts: 175	Re: steering wheel shortening search 67-72chevytrucks.com at the topf the screen for "Don Smith Original steering wheel, steering wheel down size" it has some good info.

04-08-2015, 01:14 PM	#27
RManson Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: United States Posts: 158	Re: steering wheel shortening I reduced the size of my '68 wheel down from 17-inches to around 15 a few years back and covered the process in Custom Classic Trucks. Used the aforementioned Eastwood kit. It's time consuming but I'm really happy with the result as it looks factory and isn't so awkward to steer now. You can read the whole story here for free!

04-14-2015, 02:34 AM	#29
texjake Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 283	Re: steering wheel shortening Progress report & pics. I did not get the mold completed yet & just started applying the epoxy on this steering wheel. Waiting for cure time, then it's time for lots of sanding & apply some bondo to fill any low spots, then 3 primer coats & then 3 coats of paint & clear coat. The lighting gives it an illusion of weird shapes or angles on the spoke(s), once it's finished & painted it wont be noticeable. Attached Images __________________ "Now all I need is a shop to go with my shop vac!"

04-16-2015, 11:54 PM	#30
texjake Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 283	Re: steering wheel shortening I finally got around to sanding the PC-7 epoxy. I let it set up real good for about 3 days. It's looking better than I expected but still needs alot of work to be near perfect. Attached Images __________________ "Now all I need is a shop to go with my shop vac!"

04-17-2015, 10:48 AM	#31
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,814	Re: steering wheel shortening tex dont forget i got a good doner for you to work on too. i gotta see about shipping it to you lookin good too Rmanson. i remember reading that link a while back. i bet i still have the issue. its too bad that mag got dicsontinued __________________ 1967custom

04-17-2015, 06:01 PM	#32
leftybass209 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 2,185	Re: steering wheel shortening Is it the pictures, or is that wheel more oblong shaped?

04-29-2015, 10:20 PM	#34
texjake Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 283	Re: steering wheel shortening I'm finally getting somewhere with this & I am happy with the results! Time to wet sand & then apply one more coat of black. Don't be fooled by the contour & reflection in the last pic, it is not crooked on the bottom Y spoke. You can see that is isn't in the first pic. Have a blessed day! Attached Images __________________ "Now all I need is a shop to go with my shop vac!"

04-30-2015, 03:07 AM	#35
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: steering wheel shortening Looking good man! Nice clean job. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

04-30-2015, 09:04 AM	#36
serge Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Geneva, Ohio Posts: 201	Re: steering wheel shortening Would love the same for my truck but I'm not a welder, bodyman or painter. Will definitely give it some thought. Thanks for sharing the process. __________________ General Contrucktor

04-30-2015, 07:49 PM	#40
texjake Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 283	Re: steering wheel shortening Better pics I hope, in the sun & in the shade. The orangeist color or red in the last pic is a reflection, not burn thru. Attached Images __________________ "Now all I need is a shop to go with my shop vac!"

09-22-2016, 06:55 PM	#41
elf w/capital T Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 994	Re: steering wheel shortening looks great!!! going to do this!! any photos of the resized wheel installed?

09-22-2016, 07:21 PM	#42
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: steering wheel shortening Any updates with photos would be great. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

03-18-2018, 11:45 AM	#43
elf w/capital T Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 994	Re: steering wheel shortening That is amazing! Nice job

03-18-2018, 02:19 PM	#44
Problems Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Waterford, Wi Posts: 73	Re: steering wheel shortening What’s a good size for the wheel? Does a 14” look stupid small?



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