Steering Wheel Restoration

[roadking77]

I recently used Sue Sarafinski (she can be found on Ebay) to re-cover a steering wheel for my Tenth Ann restoration. She did a phenomenal job, and the turn around time is crazy good. I sent the package on Tuesday, and the following Thursday it was back on my door step. Price is around $200 which I think is ok as well. I did not know until after the fact, that the core for the tenth wheel was different than all other t/a wheels (I had sent a standard wheel to be covered). SO, after getting the first finished, me being somewhat picky, knowing it wasnt 'really' right, began my search for a tenth core. I did find one, sent it out, exact same time frame and again a fantastic job. Cant tell the diff too much in the two finished wheels but I know. The 'real one' has a ever so slightly smaller grip and the wrapping doesnt encroach into the cutout circles in the wheels. FWIW, I polished the spokes myself before I sent the wheel off. Joe (Sues husband) said they dont restore the wheels, only clean them and put on new leather. There are legalities concerned with them working on a steering wheel that was deemed dangerous by the NHTSA or someone to that effect.
2021-01-21_02-12-43 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
TATA core, note it has a cuttout at the 6 oclock for relief of the stitching. Also the core material is different as well

2021-02-05_09-31-37 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Finished!

2020-12-11_08-49-37 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Previous wheel I had finished.

[roadking77]

After looking at the post...... Same phone/camera, same setting but different colour?  The wheels are both the same colour in person.

[pancho400cid]

Good info.  Thanks!

[Wallington]

Good pic of the wheel with stitching slot shown.

[Warren Seale]

I contacted her.  She does not do the alcantara suede cover that is used on my 60th anniv. Vette.  I found a guy in Texas that does it just like the OE.  I'll be using him once I get the next stimulus check! 

[roadking77]

Warren, that may be the guy I was looking at. His work seemed really good, and the prices were right in line with Sue.

As a side note I will add, from what I understand the 80 and 81 pace cars also used a leather wrapped steering wheel which would use the same core wheel as above. I do not know this as fact but have been told so.

[Warren Seale]

Warren, that may be the guy I was looking at. His work seemed really good, and the prices were right in line with Sue.

His name is Don Le and this is the website.

http://dallassteeringwheel.com/

[Wallington]

What was the difference in the suede covering that she didn't do, other than stock the material?

[roadking77]

Def. cant speak for her, but I have had a couple long and informative conversations with Joe, Sues husband. My guess would be not stocking the material.

[Wallington]

Yes, would expect that if you wanted it retrimmed with newspaper, she'd have the skills to do it.

I nearly sent some offcut samples of my tan leather over to use as it's a weird shade to stock or find, not my first choice but matches the gold well. Decided that since it's a 78 with black wheel and column, that it would still look best black, even though it would have been a nice custom touch, just too custom. If it were a 79+ or even Y88 with a twist, it would have been perfect.

That also brings up another question,  I wonder if any of the regular wheels retrimmed in leather by them has a groove of any sort made to help with the leather stitching join like the TATA type. My wheel doesn't even have a hint of a lump there, perhaps it's taken up by the extra layer of sponge as made to the thicker grip style. Anyway, tis a day for rambling.