New steering wheel and Indicator

[Inverted]

Hi,

Newbie WARNING!
1965 2Dr Saloon
I have a new steering wheel (old one cracking) and a new indicator stalk (old one heavily corroded) on their way to be replaced. I have a couple of what no doubt will be easy questions.

I understand its a 33mm socket required to remove the nut. After disconnecting the battery , whats the best way to get access to the nut? i take it you remove the black ring that surrounds the horn button, is it a thread or a push in? I ask as bakelite seems very brittle and i dont want to do too much damage... i've also read not to undo the nut fully at first to avoid broken noses

next one is probably jumping the gun as i havent got the replacement yet, i'm just going on initial inspection... i'm concerned about the wiring length in the pics for the new stalk. How deep do the cables run to the connectors? is it deep in the dash or on the bulkhead? or maybe nearer the wheel? Is it a tough job to thread the wires where they need to go?

thanks for any guidance and pics would be greatly appreciated if anyone has any

Regards
Chris

[Jefftav]

The centre of my steering wheel just twists off but your maybe different is the horn in the centre of your steering wheel?

The wiring runs through the steering column bracket and up behind the glove box so you will have to loosen the bracket and take out the glove box to see the wiring connectors. It's a good idea to label everything before disconnecting the the wires and test the indicators before refitting the glove box.

[Inverted]

Excellent. Will do. Yup the push horn button is in the centre. Later steering wheel model. Is that the same as yours??

[mike.perry]

I like to keep things British, so I use a 3/4 Whitworth socket. The horn button just levers out after removing the appropriate fuse to avoid annoying the neighbours.
Rewiring should not be a problem, remove the old wires one at a time and replace them with the new wires.
A lead light under the dash will brighten things up.

[katy]

I thought that it was 1&5/16" AF.

[Inverted]

Thanks peeps....
this is quite boggling to a purely metric child
Luckily one of my work colleagues has a collection of 3/4 Whitworth, and i believe i'll have one in hand tomorrow after work
Next job before all the spares arrive is to figure out the glove box removal. I understand the facia is removed by 2 screws on the bottom and one on the top..., next i guess is to remove the box itself.... the research continues...

i must admit i can see how people get sucked into mechanical engineering

Regards
Chris

[Jefftav]

Take off the external metal trim which I think is secured by two screws under the dash and they you will need a short Phillips screw (dumpy) driver to remove the 4 screws that hold in the glove box. Push the glove box back slightly and then it is just a case of wriggling it out the hole past and past the steering wheel (If you already have the wheel off then this will be easier). Just check that you haven't pulled any wires out of their connectors as it is easy done.

Keep us informed of your progress

[Inverted]

Little update:
Got the steering wheel off (eventually!) glovebox surround removed and re trimmed, fitted new stalk only to find the thing doesnt work
the small bearing that rocks through a "V" channel in the mechanism, jams on the downwarrd stroke, so in essence i can never turn right! grr...
had to get her all put back together with the old parts agin as shes off to her first show with us tomorrow oh well, i'll have to get a replacement sent out, then i'll start again. note to self: i MUST check new parts before i strip anything down!...