Steering wheel restoration

Hi, I want to restore my steering wheel and am looking for a good leather spray paint.
Has anyone attempted to do this?
Also, how do I find the interior color code?
Mine has the red interior, I think they were all the same red, weren’t they?
Also, if anyone knows where I can find a refurbished steering wheel in red - any info is hugely appreciated

You're looking for SEM brand paint.

There's a sticker under the spare tire cover in the trunk that has all your codes on it.  Here's how to decode them - Link

It should be possible to match the color your wheel was 25 years ago, but your paint has faded and aged; and the correct color won't match what you have now.  Reds are particularly bad about turning pink over time.  

Here's a site that listed what GM had for interior colors by year and brand - Link

It's not safe to assume every year used the same red.  It's likely your interior has a couple different reds, and they changed the next year.

Jack the R wrote:

You're looking for SEM brand paint.

There's a sticker under the spare tire cover in the trunk that has all your codes on it.  Here's how to decode them - Link

It should be possible to match the color your wheel was 25 years ago, but your paint has faded and aged; and the correct color won't match what you have now.  Reds are particularly bad about turning pink over time.  

Here's a site that listed what GM had for interior colors by year and brand - Link

It's not safe to assume every year used the same red.  It's likely your interior has a couple different reds, and they changed the next year.

Wow thanks for the clarification and also the links! Cheers

No problem. I remember what a PITA it was to track that stuff down for my car.

https://www.seatdoctors.com/diy-leather-dye?gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRuJejeIpMpFKFjae4TBsmSTKmP7-_UGdDpPtoRV4DmO-hvgv8fsf9RoCJBIQAvD_BwE

BuickRivieraGeorgia wrote:

Hi, I want to restore my steering wheel and am looking for a good leather spray paint.
Has anyone attempted to do this?
Also, how do I find the interior color code?
Mine has the red interior, I think they were all the same red, weren’t they?
Also, if anyone knows where I can find a refurbished steering wheel in red - any info is hugely appreciated

I ended up buying a NOS steering wheel in Toreador Red, installed that a few years ago, still real nice. I found it on eBay, for some reason a dealer in Florida had several of them. I think it was about $100 at the time.

You might want to shop around, who knows you might luck up.

Is it a problem being that they have an airbag in them or you just don't buy the airbag?

As it turns out I no longer have that sticker in the trunk… is there any ither way to find the paint codes??
I found this site: https://rivowners.org/features/Ev_Stats/colortrim/95.html

Says red Rivies only came with “dark ruby red” interior and it has a code 794… not quite sure what to make of that… can anyone confirm? And if so, where would I find the formula for it?

carguy8888 wrote:

https://www.seatdoctors.com/diy-leather-dye?gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRuJejeIpMpFKFjae4TBsmSTKmP7-_UGdDpPtoRV4DmO-hvgv8fsf9RoCJBIQAvD_BwE

I am emailing them right now! Have you used their product?

albertj wrote:

BuickRivieraGeorgia wrote:

Hi, I want to restore my steering wheel and am looking for a good leather spray paint.
Has anyone attempted to do this?
Also, how do I find the interior color code?
Mine has the red interior, I think they were all the same red, weren’t they?
Also, if anyone knows where I can find a refurbished steering wheel in red - any info is hugely appreciated

I ended up buying a NOS steering wheel in Toreador Red, installed that a few years ago, still real nice. I found it on eBay, for some reason a dealer in Florida had several of them.  I think it was about $100 at the time.

You might want to shop around, who knows you might luck up.

Yeah… if I come across anything for 100$ I probably wont spend money on paint… but I don’t usually get that lucky with parts…

carguy8888 wrote:

Is it a problem being that they have an airbag in them or you just don't buy the airbag?

Don’t need the airbag, just the wheel and buttons if they’re in good shape… do you have one available? If you can take out the airbag, it’s fine if not I can take one already assembled

BuickRivieraGeorgia wrote:

As it turns out I no longer have that sticker in the trunk… is there any ither way to find the paint codes??
I found this site: https://rivowners.org/features/Ev_Stats/colortrim/95.html

Says red Rivies only came with “dark ruby red” interior and it has a code 794… not quite sure what to make of that… can anyone confirm? And if so, where would I find the formula for it?

95 was 'dark ruby red' - burgundy

97-99 was 'toreador red' - an oxblood or cordovan color

If you don't have a local/regional auto paint shop (around me that would be Elmira Auto Paint, (800) 388-6801) that color-matches and will computer-blend paint to the factory paint code, make you a rattle can of it too) try the number I posted, or maybe contact Eastwood (www.eastwood.com).

BuickRivieraGeorgia wrote:

carguy8888 wrote:

https://www.seatdoctors.com/diy-leather-dye?gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRuJejeIpMpFKFjae4TBsmSTKmP7-_UGdDpPtoRV4DmO-hvgv8fsf9RoCJBIQAvD_BwE

I am emailing them right now! Have you used their product?

No but I spoke with the owner and this definitely sounds like a legit place.

Look up auto body supply in your town ask them if the have Sem interior paint bring your wheel and they can match it