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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Carbon 3-spoke Steering Wheel


Stevo

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Hi all,

 

Just thought I'd put up some pics of the latest project I've been working on. Tried to take some at each different phase but typically kept forgetting :(

 

Anyway, I had a spare 3 spoke wheel lying about so thought I'd have a go at creating my own carbon wheel given how expensive they are!

 

So first I cut off the leather from the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and masked off the rest of the wheel prior to putting on the base resin.

 

20150108_173833 (Medium).jpg

 

Next up was to wrap the carbon on as carefully as possible, trying to protect the weave:

 

20150110_103317 (Medium).jpg 20150110_103241 (Medium).jpg

 

At this point I forgot to take pics but basically the next stages consisted of putting the first layer of epoxy on, letting it harden off and then trimming it. Once trimmed I just kept building up the coats of resin until I'd reached a good depth.

 

Next I needed to flatten it back until I was happy with the shape and feel of it - i.e. no lumps, bumps, runs etc. The whole thing was rubbed back with 320 grit paper and then a few more coats of resin applied before a final flat back with 600 grit (shown in pics below)

 

20150131_100344 (Medium).jpg 20150131_100148 (Medium).jpg 20150215_141146 (Medium).jpg 20150215_141229 (Medium).jpg

 

Once I was happy with the look and feel, it went off to have the final top coat of UV resistant lacquer applied and this is how it stands now:

 

20150220_164338 (Medium).jpg 20150220_164425 (Medium).jpg 20150220_164440 (Medium).jpg

 

 

There are a few pinholes in the lacquer that need filling by hand tomorrow, then it'll be sent off to have the other parts of the wheel (3 & 9 o'clock positions) retrimmed in a nice nappa leather with contrasting stitching.

 

I'll update this thread with more progress pics.

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:yeahthat:

 

I've got a TRD wheel that I wouldn't mind the entire leather bit carbonised!!

 

Not sure I'd want to mess with an expensive TRD wheel mate - would rather start with a bog standard one and coat that entirely in carbon. Plus I'm not actually sure whether I'd be able to match up the weaves in the different carbon.

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Not sure I'd want to mess with an expensive TRD wheel mate - would rather start with a bog standard one and coat that entirely in carbon. Plus I'm not actually sure whether I'd be able to match up the weaves in the different carbon.

 

Worst case mate I can get it retrimmed in leather for £100 which needs doing as it is. Might be worth a dabble!

 

It's not a TRD wheel that instantly springs to mind, it's like a 330mm Nardi wheel with TRD stamped on it. Not sure on a value anyway as it came with my last Supra.

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Cheers for all the positive comments lads. It was a bit of a ball-ache to do to be honest due to the carbon weave needing to be wrapped in more than one direction!

 

I'll need to finish this one before I can accurately give a price as to how much it would be, as the price would have to include having the leather on either side retrimmed too. There is no way I could take a wheel, skin just the top and bottom parts and be left with a decent finish between the carbon and the old leather - the process is just too messy and it would look crap.

 

On the plus side, this gives you the option to have the rest trimmed in either a good leather, perforated leather or even Alcantara, along with choosing the thread colour.

 

I had my current stock wheel retrimmed to match other interior bits like this:

 

P1080420 (Medium).jpg

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That's do-able so long as the leather is being replaced at the same time. Its just a plain weave carbon compared to the 2x2 twill that I use.

 

Out of interest mate how much does the retrim of the wheel cost? Also i will get some detailed pictures of the lip in the week and forward on to you.

 

From what I remember Jake, that wheel was £100 but I'm not certain as other bits were done at the same time and my receipt didn't break down the individual parts. That was using genuine Alcantara.

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I prefer the carbon you've used, and I would want the leather retrimming too :) black perforated leather with either black, red or mid grey stitching.

 

I would probably want a gearknob doing to match too. :) Probably an oem manual one with a carbon top section and black leather lower part. :)

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