I realize they were prone to cracking and designed poorly and this may be a needle in the hay stack search. I am looking for a steering wheel to replace the current one in my 68 skylark like the one pictured.
Mine has some large cracks in the top around the wheel mounting area. There hard to over look. Some smaller ones on the ring of the wheel would be easier to over look. Have any pics?
Have you considered the reproduction 68 simulated wood wheels? There was a pretty nice one available that I purchased a number of years back, that surprised me with its quality, compared to a couple other repros I'd tried.
I have. I came real close to ordering one that also had a Buick kit that was basically a tri shield Buick sticker included to put on the horn button. If I can’t find something I will probably get it. My 69 GS has a rally wheel always thought it looked good but, after driving the skylark with the stock wheel I liked how it felt. It Is Unique today because of the grip area is thinner I think and for what ever reason I’d like to keep the interior like it is. I’ll give it some time see what turns up. Wheel repair cost probably wouldn’t be economical.
Chris, I have repaired several of those wheels in the past as well as a number of other wheels with good results if interested. I use a two part process to repair the cracked area after opening the cracked area down to the core. Wheel is then painted and cleared. Cost based on condition. Located in Northwest Ohio
I like the look of that wheel in the '68 , and wish someone recast them. Mine is cracked very badly on the back of the horn pad spoke, so I have a black/stainless sport wheel I am going to use, and then I can see if I am able to cut away the bad areas and see if I can do a decent repair on mine.
Yes sport wheel is what I have in the GS. I referred to it as a rally wheel. My 68 wheel in the skylark is cracked basically the same as you described . The seats and headliner are new and I have door panels on order. Once there replaced the cracks in the wheel, is going to gnaw at me.
Not wanting to hijack the thread, but figured it might be a good place to ask. Koch's did a "group run" on 64-65-66 GS wheels, set up by Loren Alexander of 65GS.com. Loren is a member here "la-65-gs". They did castings in black and also painted them to match samples. I had my '64 wheel redone during that project and am extremely happy with the outcome and the cost. (1/3 of the only other place that does full recasting) At one time before this project, Koch's stated a mold was about $1500-$2000 and they would need a minimum committed to around ten to make a go. The wheel is a pretty simple design, without bands and other details, so it is a good candidate to try to get a recast project going. If there are that many folks with 67-68 wheels who will commit. I would be happy to talk with Koch's and see if they will do a run. I would ask if I send them my wheel (if it could be used as a source) since most of the dimensions (I believe) are still good enough to create a mold and a "work" casting that can be used to create a final casting mold. Unless someone who has a near-flawless wheel that would be willing to provide that to Koch's to create a mold directly. (molds are typically made using silicone casting of the original, so no damage is incurred). I can also ask to post to the FB "Stepchild Nation". The cost of the mold spread out would likely put the total around $500. Give or take. Turn around might be about 6 weeks. (All a WAG, until serious discussion, is started)
I need replacement bad.. I think wood wheel has deeper dish. And also believe 70 steering column has larger mounting pad wheel attaches too. Gonna have to make call soon.. Repop steering wheel might attach to OG sport wheel hub?
There’s more than one choice on wood wheels. The wood wheel that came on ‘68s is about 4” deep. There’s several repros out there for Chevy including one that is about 3” deep. (‘69 Camaro/Chevelle?). Either one can be mounted to a ‘68 column, you just need the ‘68 style hub and contacts which are available everywhere including Todd’s DC Musclecars site. Some wheels have all three spokes machined from the same piece of metal, some are have two pieces stacked. Hubs are available either way; one vendor sells one that works with both (little piece is removable). The correct horn button is the hard part to find, although it may be reproduced now (saw a post to that effect a while ago). Patrick
I'd definitely consider the repair option. A used or NOS wheel is going to crack if it hasn't already and the repair is going to fill the weak spots. I did one for a Corvair I once owned and it turned out nice.
I put this on - but it stuck out to far. I'll just put a blue repop and maybe reuse hub and horn hardware- if it attaches to OG pattern
https://chevelle.com/1969-rosewood-steering-wheel-wheel-only/ This one is 3” deep and would work with the hub and contacts for yours.. Patrick I currently have both styles-a really nice 3” deep one and a rougher 4”. I’ve been trying to decide which one to use.
The 67-68 Walnut wheel kit is right below the 69 Rosewood wheel only that you linked to. I think there is some coloration difference between the Rosewood and Walnut, the Walnut having more brown to it, while the Rosewood seems to me to have some reddish coloration to it. Nice wheel though for sure! I don't see a wheel-only option for the 67-68 Walnut wheel.
