Hi,
Has anyone used Ecklers or Corvette Central for steering wheel restoration? I know they both have someone else do it for them (not sure if they use the same person). My car is finally in for the winter and I am ready to pull the wheel and send it out

Thanks
Jim

What year?

If you are lucky, you could score like I did... contact Vette2Vette.com and ask for a clean used one. A pot load cheaper than the restored.

I was thinking what Andy wrote. Worth thinking about.

Wasn't Ron working with Redline on getting them doing C4 wheel restores?

Quote:

Yea, he gave his wheel to his upholsterer I think.

Then he went to Vegas............

Hi
It's a 1992 that I've fully restored and replaced everything with the exception of the steering wheel because I wanted to wait until it was off the road for the winter. I did try (great guy there) as they actually supplied me with some brand new hard to find parts but they didn't have anything in new condition.

There are several companies that do this work other than the big 2 you mention. I don't have the information handy but there are two outfits I have talked with in Carlisle every year that do some incredible work on steering wheels. I'll try to dig that info up and post it back here in a day or two.

Quote:

Probably where Corvette Central sends theirs, they certainly don't do it in house. Not sure ob Eckler's.

There's very few doing C4 wheels. It's easier to find s shop that dose antique wheels than a C4.

Check with Chuck Norris. He has a lot of spare steering wheels since he doesn't need them in his cars...he simply scares the car in the direction he wants to go. LOL.

Thanks biggrizzly

Just wanted to give a little feedback.... I decided to have Ecklers do the steering wheel restoration and it arrived today and I have to say it looks and feels awesome. I know they farm the work out but who ever does the actual work did a first rate job. With this last piece it now finishes the interior... Now if I can just get the original one off and the replacement on without breaking anything or setting the air bag off! That's the weekend project. Thanks to everyone

easy. The airbag isn't a bomb... don't let it scare you.

Get a wheel puller kit from pepboys or whatever.

A T15 holds the airbag on from behind.

Remove. Then, remove the nut, someone will need to hold the wheel - don't load the locking pawl, you will regret that.

Once the nut is off, remove the wheel with the puller.

As for the airbag, unplug the yellow wire coming from the column. If it makes you feel better, pull the SRS fuse.

I did neither. I bought a thicker new reproduction 86 wheel at a car show vendor for a very reasonable $125. (I also saw the same guy at Carlisle later that year.) Eckler's sells them for $230! On Ebay new reproductions range from $130-$175 with free shipping.

I then listed my old OEM thinner mushy original wheel on ebay with plenty of pics of its condition and still got $75 and positive feedback!
New wheel =$50 :-D