Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum
General Category => Manufacturing Fund Forum => Topic started by: dusty on February 10, 2013, 01:46:40 PM
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i HAVE LOCATED AN OFF SHORE REPUTABLE MANUFACTURER OF VINTAGE STEERING WHEELS PRESENTLY MAKING FORD G.M. WHEELS ANY INTEREST FROM THE MFG CLUB
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Do they need clean cores, or can they have old material attached? The issue with having wheels done is in getting the old material removed from the core. It sounds easy, but it isn't. The 51-3 wheels the mfg fund had done had untold hours in just getting the old material removed without ruining the core.
I know there are folks looking for 51-3 wheels, as well as for HJ/Darrin and some of the early cars (converts and hardtops). Getting enough cores is a problem as most companies want a minimum run.
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Don't forget that many Aero steering wheels are also cracked. There was a "tenite" style wheel available as an option on Aeros, as well as two different black wheels.
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Does the MFG Fund still have some of the 1951 Steering Wheels that are seconds?
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No, all of the seconds have been sold
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Check with the Mfg. fund folks to see if it might be worth doing steering wheels again. It has been quite awhile since it was done. If they think it could be, try posting ads for cores on here, the Bulletin and Hemmings.
I've looked a quite a few pictures of cars for sale and most need new steering wheels.
This might be a worthwhile project. :D
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While it is true that many 1951-54 early Special Kaisers need new steering wheels, there are several things people seem to forget about the situation. First off, only the higher end Kaisers and 1954 Early Specials used a tenite plastic steering wheel (the kind reproduced). Special/deLuxe cars and Kaiser Carolinas did not use the Tenite wheel, they used a painted rubber type. That limits the market. Second, a lot of owners of cars needing wheels didn't rush to get them when first offered. I think Adam Harder will tell you that it took a while to sell out the stock. It is not unusual for people to ask for something to be made and when it becomes available demand is low because of what it costs to properly remanufacture them.
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I have one of the new steering wheels. Everyone who looks at the steering wheel on my 51 are amazed the club did it. Speaks great for the purpose of mfg. fund
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Joe, The company will do the steering wheel core complete or manufacture a complete wheel they will not use the old core as they are usually misshapen from use. the problem we run into is not being able to send to them using the US post office, the post office can track only US mail. Using UPS or FED EX is $100.00 and $110.00 per letter + weight when I had the Keys made for the club the mail correspondence was $2 00.00 after the initial correspondence with samples sent everything else was by E-MAIL .