1980 Steering Wheel Polished

[focodave]

I decided to "restore" my stock steering wheel on my 1980, yesterday, because the silver paint was wearing down to the black primer in spots, particularly at the bottom spoke near the rim of the wheel.
As I was sanding the wheel to get down to the primer, I discovered that the bare aluminum spokes looked spectacular under all of the factory paint.
So I sanded the entire spoked portion of the wheel all the way down to the bare aluminum with 100, then 220, then 600, then crocus cloth.
I finished it off with a polishing of Mother's polish.
Man, if you want a really cool look, I highly recommend this.
It's not restored to the original painted finish, but it looks really nice with a minimal amount of effort.
Dave

[4uall]

any chance of a photo?

[giuliot60]

I was also thinking of going to bare metal on my 81, but wasn't sure how it would look.

A photo would be great!

[focodave]

Ask and you shall receive...

[Tobi]

I decided to "restore" my stock steering wheel on my 1980, yesterday, because the silver paint was wearing down to the black primer in spots, particularly at the bottom spoke near the rim of the wheel.
As I was sanding the wheel to get down to the primer, I discovered that the bare aluminum spokes looked spectacular under all of the factory paint.
So I sanded the entire spoked portion of the wheel all the way down to the bare aluminum with 100, then 220, then 600, then crocus cloth.
I finished it off with a polishing of Mother's polish.
Man, if you want a really cool look, I highly recommend this.
It's not restored to the original painted finish, but it looks really nice with a minimal amount of effort.
Dave

I just checked on both of my 1981 wheels and they are both heavy and magnetic while my Abarth wheel from 1982 is not.
I would check on that before it turns brown after all the work.

[focodave]

Tobi,
Ha!
Son of a gun.
I just checked mine with a magnet, and it is NOT aluminum.
I guess I was in such a rush to get the wheel back on the car, I didn't even think to check what kind of metal it was after polishing.
I may clear coat it to protect it from tarnishing.
I really like the look.
Dave

[Danno]

I did this some time ago. It never looked good even after sanding with 2000grit and then polishing the heck out of it. I didn't clear mine and now it's rusty. Just an FYI. Now I'm considering paint again.

[Tobi]

Sorry, to bad because it does look great. Hopefully the clear coat will not change that.

[giuliot60]

I'm sure the clear coat will help. I would spray all around it. Is there a marine varnish or something that won't wear as easily.

Rustoleum is making a primer/paint combo spray that I used on my wheels. I wonder if they make a clear in the same line? Worse case scenario, I used the primer/paint titanium silver metallic spray which is a little more "metallic" than the normal silver spray.

[giuliot60]

So I recently refinished my steering wheel from the old black to polished metal with an automotive clear finish. I'm very happy with it. I've also heard that someone (from very wet Scotland) just finish it with some McQuire product and it hasn't rusted at all.

[fiasco]

If you like the look, there's one of these for sale on the forum right now. Already refinished and clear coated.

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=22006

-- se