<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style> So the wheel in my custom cab has long since passed its glory days. Its got cracks that would make the grand canyon jealous. Iv seen some posts, where people have restored some pretty messed up wheels to almost new or like new condition. Mines far to gone for this but there is a nice wheel on a certain auction site right now, that is a perfect candidate. Its got some minor cracks, that with a bit of body filler, primer and paint i suspect would make a hansom replacement for my old gal. What causes our wheels to crack? Is it just sun damage? age of the plastic? I don't want to spend the time repairing a wheel only to have it crack on me in the near future.

 

I don't know if they make a repop for the custom cabs but the one for std cabs the wife bought me for Xmas a few years back is really nice and has held up well. Using a replacement is the way to go in my opinion, trying to fix old wheels is more hassle then its worth..

 

I have not seen a custom cab wheel replacement, however thats fixable with some paint. The real issue, just boils down to cost. A repo replacement is around 200 bucks, the one i found was floating around the 40 dollar mark. For that kinda money, its worth taking the chance to try and fix it.

 

I understand the cost issue, if I hadn't got mine as a present I would still be driving with the old cracked up one which is right in front of your face. Driving with a nice wheel makes life so much more pleasant..

 

the cracks give you more grip!

 

I use one of those lace up type covers, grips great but I need to replace it and I can't find any for a wheel that large..

 

The epoxies they sell for fixing plastic bumpers on modern (for lack of a better term) `cars` work wonders for fixing these old wheels. I did mine both in my econo and in my panel over 10 years ago and both are holding up well. Just make sure and get a sandable type. It`s been 4ever since i did mine but i seem to recall it was a dominion sure seal brand one, i`m sure american sure seal would have an equivilent. I seem to remember the epoxy to be like a powder blue color.
Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 m100 panel & 64 econoline p u

 

another member has told me of a, I think, Eastwood steering wheel repair kit...cost was over $100 if I remember correctly. I have some 2 part epoxy I was going to try when I get the time, although I will ask the bumper repair supervisor next door aboot that epoxy, see what he says.

 

I think it all boils down to expansion and contraction rates whilst temperatures change.
So long as the base material and repair material are similar it shouldn't crack again for a good long while.

Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 m-100 panel & 64 econoline p/u

 

what about this stuff?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-J-B-Weld-50132-Off-White-Plastic-Weld-Syringe-25ml/201116690456?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed37d2818

 

dunno.....
(A) does it have enough body to stay in the cracks upon application so you don't have to do like several layers to build up level.

(B) does it have any flexability to deal with the expansion and contraction, bumper repair epoxy is considered semi rigid.

I generally like JB products could be worth a try worse that could happen is ya gotta re do in in a couple years.

then as far as painting goes i just used regular black acrylic urethane single stage car paint, back then i believe i used dupont centari, but it has dissapeared offa the market i now use dupont nason,
mikie
near ottawa canada
58 merc panel & 64 econoline p/u

 

I have cracks in my 57 wheel from the wrecking yard. Who knows how long it layed around there. I plan to paint it with Rustoleum rattle can appliance paint. It is an epoxy paint and dries very hard. If it doesn't come in black I will do it in white.