Steering wheel refinish

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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SpyderNoobe

Steering wheel refinish

Post by SpyderNoobe »

Hello -
I have a 80 spider that the original steering wheel is rusted and the plating/finish coming off. Is there anything to be done to save it? Can it be refinished or should it just be replaced?

Thanks in advance
rlux4
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Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: Steering wheel refinish

Post by rlux4 »

A quick search turned this up;
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... el#p191654
Several people have done the same thing and the results seem pretty nice.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
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joelittel
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Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:53 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: Steering wheel refinish

Post by joelittel »

I did the same thing to mine (sanded it down, using finer and finer grit papers, followed up with quite a few layers of clear and then sanded that down with 000 steel wool until it was very smooth, then hit it with a final coat of clear).

It looks good and has lasted, but it doesn't have the same appeal as a professionally chromed piece. From a distance my buddy could tell that it was covered with a clear coat.
wizard124
Posts: 752
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider FI
Location: Sheridan, WY exSan Rafael, CA

Re: Steering wheel refinish

Post by wizard124 »

Image

From an earlier post:
I used steel wool to remove the old finish. Then all Rustoleum products, grey primer, metallic silver, and clear coat. I found out the hard way that if you omit the primer, the metallic silver will sort of dimple, leaving a terrible finish. :( Acetone to remove. :)
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RRoller123
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Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Steering wheel refinish

Post by RRoller123 »

if you take a little red paint on a q-tip and rub it into the "Ferraro" lettering, it looks pretty good. 8) I don't have a pic unfortunately to post. I also cut away the torn flaps of rubber moulding at the spokes, as you did, it makes a nice difference.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
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