My original steering wheel was dying.  The molded foam on the wheel ring was loose.  I replaced the wheel with a newer part from the junkyard, but I wanted to give the truck a little more pizazz that would build on the hot rod theme.

Here was my solution:

Old wheel

Parts removed

Cutting away the old foam, but leaving parts near the spokes that will be used as a form later.

I marked out the circle that I needed, then began to tack weld the chain circle.

Completed loop.

The hub and spokes were added back and carefully trued.  Once everythig was honky-dory, it was welded.

The chain portion was chemiically cleaned, then primed and painted with urethane enamel.  I originally wanted to get it chromed, but did not want to deal with that during the blistering hot Mississippi summers.

Here I have begun to fill in the missing padding with bits of foam, and tape to hold them in place.

 Finished wheel.  The horn button and spokes were covered in yellow vinyl. 

The back cover was cleaned, primed, and painted with a yellow-orange fade.  This will later blend with the column cover.

 With braided nylon rope added.

The steering wheel is just the beginning of the custom interior.  I plan to do door panels next.