C1's Texture or No Texture ?

[Richard M.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

You apparently had your fun this weekend. What a great experience that was for you. Congrats again on a great car. Your documentation and ability to tell the story over the whole process was as meticulous as your restoration prowess.

Somewhere I have the name of the guy in MI that restores steering wheels. I believe his name is Richard Dunham although I could be wrong. He did a beautiful job on my original '56 wheel several years ago. Have you spoken with him on this topic?

Garry

Thanks Garry, It was in fact a blast. I had a great time and so fortunate to be a part of it all.

I believe I actually had a wheel that Richard restored that I bought on Ebay about 8 or 9 years ago. I'll see if I have a snapshot somewhere. It had a light texture to it. Maybe it was his. I sold it with the '62 project car I never got to. I have not spoken with him and if I get some cycles I may do that, but it looks like the consensus is 'grain', so now don't need to question him about it. I'm a believer and trust you guys.

Richard would tell you that they all had grain originally. He and I have spent plenty of time driving to Regionals and discussing Corvettes.

Recently he saw a 58 wheel with chamfered holes. He wondered if it may have been an interim wheel or... as a former GM engineer with us noted, if the GM tooling was just wearing out which is the real reason later wheels have no chamfer.

Patrick, I need to get over the grain thing before I start learning about the chamfer thing. My brain is pretty fried lately and feeling a bit like a cinder.

...on second thought, my knee hurts from stepping on a curb and twisting it Saturday night at the hotel(no I wasn't drunk!), and since I'm not getting much done today anyway, I took a few "chamfer" shots of my '59 wheel. (BTW Gary, I believe you're correct about 56-57 wheels with the chamfer as i believe my 59 wheel is really a 56/57 wheel as the red is more Venetian than Roman).

Here they are. Didn't really pay much attention to that I must admit. But I also see a bunch of circular rings inside the holes too. Hmmm, what's that from a Machining process? I thought someone said the holes were punched out....or am I getting ill from my lunch?

...RaRo, here we go again.....

[Thomas H.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

I had Rich Dunham do the wheel in my 58. Came out great and judged fine. Thought I had a close up picture, but can't locate it at the moment.....

IMG_1608.jpg

My 60 is an original owner car that I know has the original wheel in it (90k miles or so). There is very little if any grain visible - appears to be worn off as I have heard it does over time.

Tom

[Bruce B.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

Approximately 10 to 15 years ago I purchased a black C1 steering wheel dated 11-24-1955 engraved on the front surface. It came from an estate of a GM engineer who worked at GM Inland Manufacturing in Dayton. He worked on the development of GM steering wheels among numerous other parts. I believe it was a prototype or a very early manufactured wheel. It had grain on all of the plastic wheel surfaces. The spokes holes all had a chamfer on both sides of each hole and the holes were punched not drilled or machined.
This wheel was loaned to a large Corvette parts manufacturer as a model or pattern for new reproduction wheels. The repro wheels were inspected by a C1 team leader and he said he would judge it acceptable with a 1 point deduction since it was not original but fit and finish were excellent. I sold around 100+ of the repro wheels and never heard of any problems in NCRS judging.
I also purchased 5 prototype "Teak Wheels" from his estate which I still have and they are beautiful. Three of them are made from wood other then teak.
I will try and locate some pictures.

[David B.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

Dave,

The 56-7 wheel spoke holes were slightly beveled, 58 and up spoke holes had straight edges and not chamfered.

Gary
....

Gary,
Print does not show any change. However, the 9-11-57 date (after 57 Corv. production stopped) previously mentioned does note "Revised to detail" in part#760741 which is the spoke insert assembly but does not describe change. This revision would show up on the spoke assembly print 760741. The 9-11-57 date certainly falls within start up of 58 production.
Do you have any GM reference source for the bevel you mention?

[Richard M.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

Approximately 10 to 15 years ago I purchased a black C1 steering wheel dated 11-24-1955 engraved on the front surface. It came from an estate of a GM engineer who worked at GM Inland Manufacturing in Dayton. He worked on the development of GM steering wheels among numerous other parts. I believe it was a prototype or a very early manufactured wheel. It had grain on all of the plastic wheel surfaces. The spokes holes all had a chamfer on both sides of each hole and the holes were punched not drilled or machined.
This wheel was loaned to a large Corvette parts manufacturer as a model or pattern for new reproduction wheels. The repro wheels were inspected by a C1 team leader and he said he would judge it acceptable with a 1 point deduction since it was not original but fit and finish were excellent. I sold around 100+ of the repro wheels and never heard of any problems in NCRS judging.
I also purchased 5 prototype "Teak Wheels" from his estate which I still have and they are beautiful. Three of them are made from wood other then teak.
I will try and locate some pictures.

Bruce, Did the team leader understand it may have been a prototype and "briefcased" home and tucked away in the basement? If so, wouldn't that be construed as NTFP?

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

I just remembered I "semi-restored" a '59 turquoise wheel a few years ago and looked at the photos for the grainy stuff. I never did a wheel before but I figured I'd give it a quick freshening up. Definitely not a professional, quality, Richard D, type job, but I gave it a shot. I made it smooth, no grain.

We were going to use a grainy repro, and I had one in my hands at Carlisle a few years ago years ago but couldn't imagine using it because I worked hard to get the turquoise interior right on that car and no way was I going to put a cheap looking Asian repro on it. I don't know who the manufacturing vendor was but it just wasn't up to my standards. The normal price was around $400 IIRC, but the Carlisle "blem" specials were running around 100 bucks. I couldn't do it, even at that price.

The car is owned by a man(fellow member Mike Tracy, now in western FL) who bought it in 1964. In the early 70's he parked it due to work travel and soon afterward took it apart to restore it. It was in boxes, including the steering wheel. For about 45 years he traveled around the US and the world with Dupont building new manufacturing facilities. He moved the "box-project" with him around the country.......11 times! He stored it when he went overseas, which in the 80's was in Campinas, Brazil. I was there in the 80's myself on business, and we coincidentally may have passed each other then. Okay, enough rambling, sorry.

Here are the before and after. I guess there may be some grain. When I did the wheel it looked like cracks. If the plastic grows and fills in its own grain, I suppose to the eye it can look cracked. And.....the holes are chamfered.

Rich

[Bruce B.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

Rich,
The team leader looked a 4 different color repro wheels I had and said they were good and he did know they were new.
This discussion has gone on for years and everyone has their own opinion.
I will try and post some pictures later today.
Now get some rest...
Bruce B

[Gary C.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

Dave,

Wish we did have documentation. Bevel change was observation on unrestored cars.

Gary
....

[Randy S.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

Hi All.

A little late to the discusison, but I have attached a photo of the original wheel from my '60. The grain has been worn smooth around the wheel expect for those places that weren't frequently handled.

Clearly can see the texture in the wheel.

Have a great Friday!

Randy

[Bruce B.]

Re: C1's Steering Wheels-Texture or No Texture ?

Randy,
Better late then never.
And you are correct, original C1 steering wheels did have texture.
Thanks,
Bruce B