Sierra Steering Column for De Dion

[bogster]

Hi,

I've got hold of a steering column on Ebay which is out of a 1989 Sierra Ghia (round hazard switch). I spoke with peter and I can get around that with a bit of help with the wiring. But apparently the inner most stalk clashes with the dashboard. To overcome the problem what has been done and works is to heat the plastic stalk with a heat gun until it becomes pliable enough to be reshaped in order to clear the dashboard. Has anyone done this?

Now that i have a full Steering column, switches, etc I need to modify the end of the column. However one of the lads on the forum has spare column without the switch gear etc. Should it be possible to replace the column with the modified column or is there differences in the columns. by column I only mean the metal shaft assembly with the triangular end and threaded end as shown in the picture.

[snake_bitten]

Hi Bogster

I have the later type column and it fitted no probs, however I have now done away with the small lever and used a dash mounted light switch instead.
I can't help with the inner column question tho sorry, but I could not just read and leave.

[madjohnny]

Bogster, I had a similar problem, and tried heating the stalks to bend them forward a bit without much success to be honest. I heated them to the point were they were starting to blister and they still wouldn't bend easily.

Good thing about Ford stuff is nearly everything fits everything else. A friend of mine gave a big bag of stalks and I found one in there that fitted better.

I intend to bin them out once I'm through the SVA and fit some nice S/S ones.

So if your going to try bending them be careful with the heat!!!!

Did you get the column cowling because that's the hard bit to get hold of!!

[bogster]

Thanks snake bitten & Johnny. Hopefully I won't have too much a problem with it. Yes I did get the cowling with the steering column.

[dave]

Safetyspice told me that he got around this fouling problem on his Sumo (Using the later switches) by putting some packings under the back of the switch cranking it towards the steering wheel a little more.

Colin. When you have the spline part fitted only slide the plastic bush 1" up the spline (Not all the way up to the triangular part). The 1" will give enough room for the UJ and goes a long way to solving your dash fouling problem.
ou need the UJ as near to the bulkhead to reduce the UJ angles to make for smoother steering.
If you can follow that congratulations...........If not ring me (07785 702005 before 10:00 pm)