67 Steering Wheel Construction

[Al R.]

I've researched and can't locate any info on this. Were 67-68 plastic steering wheels pieced together at different points or were they poured as 1 continuous pc onto the metal spokes? I've noticed a lot of 67 steering wheels with a fine vertical line near the top center of the wheel that is darker in color than the rest of the plastic material. Is this a manufacturing seam or the beginnings of stress cracks? Some lines appear to go all the way around the vertical section at the top. What is the general opinion on this? Seams or cracks. I have seen as most have, cracks where the wheel connects to the spokes, but I was wondering on the vertical lines.

[Gene M.]

Re: 67 Steering Wheel Construction

Al,
John Hinckley wrote an artical depicting the 67 wheel and I think the 68 too. I came across a cut out copy of it a couple weeks ago as I was looking for something else.

[John H.]

Re: 67 Steering Wheel Construction

I've researched and can't locate any info on this. Were 67-68 plastic steering wheels pieced together at different points or were they poured as 1 continuous pc onto the metal spokes?

Al -

The molten plastic was injected under high pressure into a 2-piece mold that contained the stainless steel core of the steering wheel, surrounding the rim portion of the core; all done in one shot.