Post 22: Steering Wheel Reconditioning

11 February 2018.
Post 22: Steering Wheel


When I bought the car I could see that the steering wheel, whilst better than some needed some attention.  There were some cracks in the plastic around the points where the rim joins the spokes of the wheel.




Crack in spoke to rim

Crack on another spoke

 The first thing to do was to extend the crack, yes make it worse, worrying but had to be done.  Using the Dremel to grind out so that I could fill the crack with new plastic mixture, PC-7.  This is a 2 part mixture that cures in the crack.  Never used it but had a go at it!

 

Started the cutting - bit messy - in the kitchen too!

 

Crack developed

Crack at the rear, developed

 So after the process of filling

Filled spoke, lots of sanding at this point, oh and then re-filling, sanding.

Then it is painting.  I missed the opportunity to get some images of that but it is just a number of primer coats, two or three, then top coats, two or three then a final coating of lacquer to finish off.  Well here is how far I got, not perfect but definitely acceptable I think.

Finished close up, not bad for a first attempt

Post 21: A little bit of Engine work

2nd February 2018


Since the high of getting some wheels on I decided to more to move on to the rather filthy engine.  A reminder of that you can see below;




A very dirty engine!!

Can't say that I particularly enjoyed cleaning the engine, I did get a little help from Mikey which made a difference! Mikey's solution to cleaning is to use petrol, seems he is right having tried some cleaners there is nothing like petrol, OK it smells a bit but it definitely is the fastest cleaner available.


As you will see the engine is stripped back a little, I have decided not to dismantle it and recondition the engine as it did appear to run OK before I removed it from the car.  Its a risk I know but I think worth a shot to be sure and if it doesn't work then so be it wont be a surprise just be that I will run out f luck which so far has been with me on the restoration.   Anyway here are some painted engine images and a reminder of that great day when I got the engine running, almost a year ago now in early March 2017, well enjoy.

Engine right side, minus the rod covers

A lower view of the engine right side

Front and right side of the engine

Left side of the engine

Front of the engine - no water pump