steering column
Discussion
Job done, just needs road testing tomorrow. 
I pinched TopGearTVR Steve's idea
& first tapped out the alloy housing bolt holes to M6 x 1.0
I bought 5 off 6mm x 20mm stainless hex head setscrews & 5mm penny washers which I opened up to 6.4 mm & then had a root about in my garage & found an some 1mm thick neoprene rubber & some ally sheet.
Using the housing as a template, I made up the retainer plate & gasket like this:
Next step was to remove the old worn bulkhead bearing assembly. First I undid the steering coupling, then undid the 4 nuts inside the footwell and pushed out the old housing.
I found access a lot easier after removing the driver's seat, then I unbolted the 2 top steering column mounting bolts. I also had to undo the boot release lever & also remove a lot of cable ties holding the wiring harness until I had enough slack to withdraw the column stem from the bulkhead.
The old bearing....
I pinched TopGearTVR Steve's idea
& first tapped out the alloy housing bolt holes to M6 x 1.0 I bought 5 off 6mm x 20mm stainless hex head setscrews & 5mm penny washers which I opened up to 6.4 mm & then had a root about in my garage & found an some 1mm thick neoprene rubber & some ally sheet.
Using the housing as a template, I made up the retainer plate & gasket like this:
Next step was to remove the old worn bulkhead bearing assembly. First I undid the steering coupling, then undid the 4 nuts inside the footwell and pushed out the old housing.
I found access a lot easier after removing the driver's seat, then I unbolted the 2 top steering column mounting bolts. I also had to undo the boot release lever & also remove a lot of cable ties holding the wiring harness until I had enough slack to withdraw the column stem from the bulkhead.
The old bearing....
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 6th August 22:29
Next step was to position the retaining plate centrally over the bulkhead aperture & drill the new 5-hole bolt pattern through the fibreglass bodyshell.....
Next I fitted the special spring washer & plastic bush onto the column shaft...
.....and then positioned the new alloy housing & bearing inside the car, using silicone sealant, and fitted the rubber gasket & retainer ring in place, also with silicon sealant applied. Then I bolted it up......
......and pushed the column stem and bush into the bearing housing from inside the car.....
View from inside footwell....
Finally I refitted the steering column 2 top bolts, ensured that the centre bush was fully engaged in the bearing & the special washer was in the correct position.
I refitted the steering coupling to the triangular shaft ( with threadlock on the bolt ) and replaced all the bits removed for access.
Tomorrow - road test!
If anybody decides to follow this guide, you do so entirely at your own risk.
I'm very old & may have forgotten something
Always apply common sense & work safely.
Or entrust the work to someone who knows what they're doing.
Next I fitted the special spring washer & plastic bush onto the column shaft...
.....and then positioned the new alloy housing & bearing inside the car, using silicone sealant, and fitted the rubber gasket & retainer ring in place, also with silicon sealant applied. Then I bolted it up......
......and pushed the column stem and bush into the bearing housing from inside the car.....
View from inside footwell....
Finally I refitted the steering column 2 top bolts, ensured that the centre bush was fully engaged in the bearing & the special washer was in the correct position.
I refitted the steering coupling to the triangular shaft ( with threadlock on the bolt ) and replaced all the bits removed for access.
Tomorrow - road test!
If anybody decides to follow this guide, you do so entirely at your own risk.
I'm very old & may have forgotten something
Always apply common sense & work safely.
Or entrust the work to someone who knows what they're doing.
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 6th August 23:21
Some good stuff on there there is young Skywalker. 
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff