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Steering column
Hornet - 4/8/03 at 12:48 PM

Gents, I'm at the steering column stage... and am undecided...
Escort mkII
Sierra or
Nova.....

Which is best to proceed with?

Thanks in adance..


JoelP - 4/8/03 at 12:55 PM

im using a sierra one cos thats the donor. easy to find and nothing appatently wrong with it. Its collapsable so all good.

probably not much in it.

someone did say that sierra steering wheels are SVA friendly though, surely a good start since the rest of my car probably isnt!

id use which ever you find first unless someone says otherwise.


Mark Allanson - 4/8/03 at 12:57 PM

I am using the sierra, it was easy to fit, and all the switch gear will plug into my sierra loom.


ChrisW - 4/8/03 at 02:19 PM

Well the Escort mk2 one is out cos it's not collapsible (and therefore not SVA friendly). Most people (me included) use the Sierra one. I've got one in the garage if you need one!

Chris


stats - 4/8/03 at 08:39 PM

does anyone have any piccies on how you fitted the column I am begining to start scratching my head and I really dont want splinters

Thanks

stats


Mark Allanson - 4/8/03 at 09:15 PM

This is how I did it Rescued attachment Sierra Column.jpg
Rescued attachment Sierra Column.jpg


stephen_gusterson - 4/8/03 at 09:32 PM

I note a lot of extra diagonal bracing there Mark.

Thats both of us pessimists then!

atb

steve


Hornet - 5/8/03 at 06:58 AM

Thanks for answers guys. I have a mk2 escort sitting in garden... but i will go with Chris's comments.... thats eliminated..
A friend has a Nova sitting in his garden.....unsure.....
Sierra, prob best option.... so Chris U2 me with price, I assume postage will be about £20ish?
Cheers


stephen_gusterson - 5/8/03 at 08:59 AM

parcelforce send up to 30kg for a tenner and a kilo from about 3 quid on 48 hrs


ab

steve


Mark Allanson - 5/8/03 at 12:45 PM

Thats both of us pessimists then!

Steve, I see alot of funny things at work and want to have a bit of protection. I once had to remove a gearbox on a Audu A4 to remove a wedged and very dead badger from the transmission tunnel. The main reason is a prop failure, but it does add the the stiffness and I only added 10Kg's in total


andyps - 5/8/03 at 01:36 PM

Mark,

What have you used to support the scuttle? I am presumng there is something inside what appears to be sheet steel.


Mark Allanson - 5/8/03 at 01:46 PM

I made a frame of 13mm ERW and skinned it in 20g steel. A double step of ERW at the front to give somewhere for the bonnet to sit. Rescued attachment Scuttle Front.jpg
Rescued attachment Scuttle Front.jpg


andyps - 5/8/03 at 01:55 PM

Looks great, 'scuse my ignorance though - what is ERW?

Cheers


David Jenkins - 5/8/03 at 02:00 PM

Electric Resistance Welding

The tube is made from flat strip that's folded into a tube. The join is made by passing a huge current across the edges.

Recognisable by a blue-purple stripe down one side, and a slight bump on the inside.

This is what you get when you ask for steel tube, unless you specify something better. It's strong enough for most of our purposes.

cheers,

David


Mark Allanson - 5/8/03 at 07:04 PM

I should think its strong enough - its what the whole chassis is made off!


Cousin Cleotis - 5/8/03 at 07:17 PM

i tried to remove a nova steering column, they have some sort of safty snap off nut thing that i couldnt remove so i just gave up, do all columns have this sort of thing?

Thanks, Paul


Mark Allanson - 5/8/03 at 07:34 PM

Yes,
Get a small cold chisel and give it a good welt, get another blunt one (old screwdriver) and progressivly tap the head around. They usually free up really easily because they are never exposed to the elements.

Alternatively, just drill em out


andyps - 5/8/03 at 09:39 PM

On Mini's you can use a hacksaw to put a slot in what is left after the head comes off - put a screwdriver in the slot and the bolt comes out easily. Never tried it on any other car though.


Peteff - 6/8/03 at 08:53 AM

It's a shear bolt or nut. The hexagon breaks off when they get to torque, to stop you taking them off. Cut through the bracket if you don't want to re-use it then take the head off in the comfort of your shed.

yours, Pete.


Hornet - 6/8/03 at 09:46 AM

Bloody Hell!!!

Quote.. then take the head off in the comfort of your shed.

What if the neighbours see or hear u?