Restoration-Mini

Technical Forums => Maintenance and Modifications => Topic started by: tmsmini on April 26, 2017, 06:19:57 PM

Title: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on April 26, 2017, 06:19:57 PM
Any one had a steering wheel leather wrapped?
There are DIY kits from $50 to custom jobs for $300.
My wife wants the stock wheels and they are just too thin for my liking, so I would like to get a quality wrap job done.
Terry
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: Willie_B on April 27, 2017, 04:07:59 AM
I looked at the DIY kits and the leather was too wide to fit a stock thin steering wheel.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on April 27, 2017, 07:09:30 AM
That is why I am willing to send them to someone to be done right.
I put on some of those plastic/vinyl types with wrap around lacing a long time ago, but I would prefer this to be done correctly.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: MiniDave on April 27, 2017, 07:24:30 AM
I found this online, might be worth a phone call.....

http://www.dallassteeringwheel.com/about.htm

Hang on, I know  guy near San Diego, all he does is steering wheel repairs, let me see if I can find his info.....found it!

http://qualityrestorations.com/

Dennis is a friend of mine from back in my Jaguar days, if you call him tell him Dave Craven (E-Type) sent you!
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: BruceK on April 27, 2017, 07:48:27 AM
Quote from: MiniDave on April 27, 2017, 07:24:30 AM
I found this online, might be worth a phone call.....

http://www.dallassteeringwheel.com/about.htm

The skinny '53 Plymouth wheel with the leather added gives a good clue how a original Mini wheel would turn out.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on April 27, 2017, 08:21:03 AM
I have sent emails to Dallas Steering Wheels and Custom Craft.
Thanks for the San Diego connection.
Terry
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on April 28, 2017, 10:50:20 AM
Dallas got back to me.
I guys my desire is bigger than my budget:
Thanks for the photos.  The cost to recover your classic mini steering wheel with some options available is.
- Wheel $379 each (premium solid black leather).
- Extra padding $70 (your choice of either the 1/16" or 1/8" padding).  The plymouth wheel was done with the 1/8" padding.
- Colored stitching (no extra charge).


Either I find someone else, live with it or maybe try a Wheelskin kit that will need some modification to fit the small rim.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: MiniDave on April 28, 2017, 10:54:46 AM
Quality costs, doesn't it?

The days of DIY on some things is just gone......

What would a nice aftermarket leather wrapped wheel and hub cost? Probably about the same?

Edit: Having said that, here's a UK company that offers wraps made to order for reasonable prices and shows you how to stitch it on......maybe worth contacting them?

https://www.leathersteering.com/en/ (https://www.leathersteering.com/en/)

Edit II: I sent them a note
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: 94touring on April 28, 2017, 11:05:03 AM
Seems like a quality aftermarket wheel would be the way to go. 
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: jeff10049 on April 30, 2017, 12:36:06 PM
wow, that is spendy. I get it though I restored my mini wheel filled all the cracks with pc7 epoxy, sanded, primed, and painted. With time and materials, it would probably be a $300-500 job at shop rate.

You might check with some local upholstery shops some around here do that stuff they are a little less money than Dallas. A friend had his MG done it was about $180 he may have supplied the wrap I can't remember.

Jeff
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on April 30, 2017, 01:35:41 PM
I did the PC-7 thing with the kit from Eastwood. Now I just want the rim wrapped. Most places just do full restorations. I would say what I did is a repair.
There are some blemishes that I did not see before paint, but with a smooth consistent coating, they are visible.

Wheelskins do a wrap similar to the UK company and also have an installation service.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on May 27, 2017, 09:29:24 PM
I went with WheelSkins and had them do the installation.

Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: MiniDave on May 27, 2017, 09:44:18 PM
That looks terrific!
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: BruceK on May 28, 2017, 06:11:06 AM
Fantastic result!
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: MiniDave on May 28, 2017, 07:17:41 AM
What's that under the dash on the left?
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on May 28, 2017, 08:26:55 AM
Just a hanging pocket where my wife keeps her sunglasses. It sort of clips to the parcel shelf.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: MiniDave on May 28, 2017, 08:50:56 AM
good idea....
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: MPlayle on May 28, 2017, 10:27:00 AM
I'm intrigued by the extra gauge pod in front of the driver.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: tmsmini on May 28, 2017, 01:15:10 PM
Nick Upton(Boot to Bonnet) now Seven Resto created the the pod. He is now creating version two for the other car with a slightly different viewing angle.

It is very similar to one that Doug Lawson and John Gervais have.
Title: Re: Leather Steering Wheel Wraps
Post by: MPlayle on May 28, 2017, 02:00:26 PM
I was curious as something like that would make a useful addition for adding extra gauges on the Moke (Tach, Oil Pressure, Water Temp).

Something that would mount on top of the steering column support - no parcel shelves on the Moke.