I learned about something

Kinja'd!!! "ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
07/11/2017 at 20:37 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 14

I know very little about old American cars. The T Bird has a rim blow steering wheel, which is apparently a thing.

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His is in bad shape. The wheel is cracked, the plastic warped, and the rim blow switch only works erratically.

So I thought, “an old steering wheel can’t be THAT much, I wonder if I can find one?” I found one on eBay.

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Holy baked goods, Batman, that is a lot of dough!!! I can have it restored for around $500.

https://www.therimblowbuddy.com

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I also found a tutorial that suggests that repair and restore is not that difficult, but I don’t know about that.

Maybe a different wheel is in order. I never knew these existed, and I am learning more about this restoration marketplace every day.

 


DISCUSSION (14)


Kinja'd!!! daender > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 20:48

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Not to take Wikipedia as the 100% truth, butI am in agreement with this statement about rim blow wheels:

Technical issues, such as hardening (difficult to activate) and shrinking (causing the horn to sound without activation) of the rubber, and a lack of customer acceptance led to the discontinuation of the rim blow steering wheels after only a few years.

That said, if you replaced the outer material (is that vinyl?) with something more durable, like actual wood, then this wouldn’t be a bad idea!


Kinja'd!!! WilliamsSW > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 20:51

Kinja'd!!!1

I’m sure it’s fine, coming from you, but I’m not clicking a link for “therimblowbuddy.com” no matter what. :)

Also, that’s crazy money. Didn’t realize those were that big $$!


Kinja'd!!! My X-type is too a real Jaguar > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 20:55

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You know you want to.......

https://m.summitracing.com/parts/grt-741?seid=srese1&cm_mmc=pla-google-_-shopping-_-srese1-_-grant-products&gclid=CP6v-oHEgtUCFc22wAodZ8UFZw

Ducks and runs dodging things being pelted at me from California


Kinja'd!!! 19JRC99 > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 20:57

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You think that’s bad, you oughta see what Boss 429 parts cost. NOS ones, anyway.

How about a set of never used plug wires?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Autolite-Ford-D0ZZ-12259-C-1969-70-Boss-429-Mustang-spark-plug-wire-set-NIB-/182176806349


Kinja'd!!! Clown Shoe Pilot > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 21:02

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The domain name of the guy who services them sounds pornographic.


Kinja'd!!! Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 21:03

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leave one out in the sun and then the plastic will warp and set off the horn.


Kinja'd!!! lone_liberal > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
07/11/2017 at 21:05

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It’s not a ‘64 Chevy!

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Kinja'd!!! OPPOsaurus WRX > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 21:07

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Rim blow? I bet the first couple pages of Google results send you to pornhub


Kinja'd!!! Honeybunchesofgoats > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 21:21

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For restoring,

I don’t know what he asks, and he has an obvious specialty, but this guy’s work speaks for itself.

http://www.britishautowood.com/


Kinja'd!!! BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 21:45

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My ‘69 Cadillac hearse has a rim blow steering wheel


Kinja'd!!! 6691 zapS > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 22:12

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Hmm maybe both. He can sell the rebuilt wheel later with the car and make a down payment on a house. At least according to Ebay.


Kinja'd!!! TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 22:28

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“rim blow”

He he he.


Kinja'd!!! RallyWrench > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 22:47

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Is it real wood? There’s a guy here that does amazing automotive woodwork, I had him do my Lancia wheel and it’s beautiful. Link to a little post I did on it:

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/progress-of-sorts

Not sure about the plastic and vinyl bits, but if there’s real wood he’s the man.


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ImmoralMinority
07/11/2017 at 22:52

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So the horn button is the on the front of the rim of the wheel? Or do you ouch against the whole rim? Either way doesn’t seem like a great idea.