A question of stalks

[user1453]

Hi

I've been looking into the Ultima GTR for a while and I have a question

I have noticed some ultimas have control stalks fitted. My questions are:

1)Does the steering column need to be extender or can the stalks be recessed into the dash.

2)Is it possible to also install the self cancelling indicator mechanism?

[ROWDYRENAULT]

The spacing on the wheel to clear the stalks is important. I would suggest to mount the stalks and the steering wheel and then see how much clearence you have if you have to extend the column like i, did you might consider a narrow quick relaese for the steering wheel that will give you an extra inch with the narrowst of quick releases. The self canceling feature is built into the stalk set up. In my opinion the stalk is the only way to go. It gets rid of several switchs cleans up the dash, self cancels the turn signals and most importantly it makes the car drive like every thing else that you drive. I don't need to be looking for the lights the wipers what ever when I ought to be concentrating on whats in the windsheild. Lee

[San Diego GTR]

I sent an email to Big Al to get more info on the stalks he provided. When I learn more I'll report back.
Paul

[Graham-P]

In the UK it seems Escort stalks are popular either the mk4 (stubby ones) which SimonGTR and Davriman have fitted or the mk5 (Orion) which Stig, LuckyP and I have fitted (above), not sure about the mk4 stalks but Stig and me had a longer column made and LuckyP recessed his stalks into the dash and kept his original column. If you go for the mk5(?) Fiesta stalks you'll find they have the horn push at the end of the indicator stalk thus not having to worry about the centre horn ring. As for the self cancelling, I blind drilled and tapped the shaft for a bolt to hit the nylon cancelling tab on the stalk. You will have to make a housing for the stalks to bolt to and an idea can be got from Stig's build site plus to finish the top off I got the column surround from an Escort/Orion and cut it down to fit and then covered it in leather (still trying to get the bottom cover to 'look' right)
I got an auto electrician to wire them up and the stalks replace the indicator relay as the relay is in the stalks and I replaced the headlamp relay with a Ford one to get rid of the VW relay which seems to pack up after a while, and as you can see from the above pic it takes off the dash most of the buttons leaving only the rear fog, and radiator fans overide, my brake fluid test button is a micro switch on the hand brake wired into the dash display.
Just remembered that the delayed wash wipe facility will not work as this goes through the Escorts (GEN) ECU, so I installed a wash/wipe from 'Smartscreen'


Graham

Edited by Graham-P on Tuesday 18th December 10:03

[Stig]

As Graham said, I had stalks and used an extended steering column - however, this was because I was using the Stack integrated dash and pod which sits above the steering column shaft.

LuckyP's install (using the Ultima dials but in a custom pod) meant that he didn't need to lengthen the shaft. I believe his retains the slip ring for the self cancelling mechanism too?

There are other ways of getting the cancel feature to work (timer circuit etc.). Personally I never found it a problem - but was probably more laziness than anything It took a while to sort all the wiring out and integrate it into the Ultima loom - an issue made more problematic as seemingly identical stalk sets from the donor cars actually work in different ways! That's why it's been hard to pass on wiring advice as there's no real guarantee it will work for other installs!

[kylemrushall]

It does look so much more modern etc without all those dash switches!!

I think it will have to be a future upgrade for me ....

[San Diego GTR]

Here is what Big Al (Allan) sent me:

"I collected a number of these from Princess Auto here in London, ON. as surplus items. I gathered 2 different designs, but they are similar enough to use the same mount bracket I designed for them. The difference is in the steering column extension required - one is longer to clear the steering wheel rim and fingers past the "dish" of the stalks. Even with the longer extension, I still preferred to bend the stalks a little "flatter" to clear my fingers on the wheel. Ike Moola found that the unit I used (my second choice) was from a 1997 Mazda MX6. I made the stalk assy cover as part of my dashpod.
If you need anymore info, please let me know."

As I already have lots of holes drilled in my dash for the turn signal switch, wiper switch, washer switch, etc, I'm going to pass on this pretty extensive mod for the time being.

Paul

[jonamacg83]

How does this affect the fitment of the dash with the Stack instrument panel if at all? Looks like a good idea tho, smartens the whole thing up very nicely indeed!

[crafty]

I'm not 100% happy with the switches and gauge layout I have in the GTR so I'm going to pull the dash out, ditch the clock and boost gauge, replace the switches with indicator stalks and change the ICE.

STALKS
I've tried Ford here in Hong Kong and they just gave me a blank stare and "couldnt" find the part without a chassis number. Ive been looking on Ebay but the pictures are not that clear. Today I went strolling around a few 2nd hand car places trying to have a look at various models, but couldnt find any old Fords.... they're not very popular over here...


FIESTA
Can anyone confirm which model Fiesta has the horn on the end?
Does that model have the hazard incorporated?
Does that model have the lights on the stalk?
Can anyone confirm the part number for each each side stalk. (or the whole assembly)


MK4 Escort (stubby ones)
Do these have the front wash switch on the stalk? Is this "push in" on the end of the stalk?
Is there a spare switch (like rear wash) that could be used for front wash, leaving the "push-in" for horn?
Can anyone confirm the part number for each each side stalk.(or the whole assembly)

ICE
I currently have a unit with a flip-out screen. This is a singe DIN indash unit with DVD and separate changer. I was hoping to change it for a unit that is just a touch screen, with MP3/4, USB socket, no need for DVD. Anyone know if there is such a thing? Lucky - I was trying to read the brand of yours from the photo but cant make it out. How deep is that unit? Is it MP3/4? Does it have USB?

Edited by crafty on Saturday 26th January 07:22

[Davrianman]

crafty said:

I'm not 100% happy with the switches and gauge layout I have in the GTR so I'm going to pull the dash out, ditch the clock and boost gauge, replace the switches with indicator stalks and change the ICE.

STALKS
I've tried Ford here in Hong Kong and they just gave me a blank stare and "couldnt" find the part without a chassis number. Ive been looking on Ebay but the pictures are not that clear. Today I went strolling around a few 2nd hand car places trying to have a look at various models, but couldnt find any old Fords.... they're not very popular over here...


FIESTA
Can anyone confirm which model Fiesta has the horn on the end?
Does that model have the hazard incorporated?
Does that model have the lights on the stalk?
Can anyone confirm the part number for each each side stalk. (or the whole assembly)


MK4 Escort (stubby ones)
Do these have the front wash switch on the stalk? Is this "push in" on the end of the stalk?
Is there a spare switch (like rear wash) that could be used for front wash, leaving the "push-in" for horn?
Can anyone confirm the part number for each each side stalk.(or the whole assembly)

ICE
I currently have a unit with a flip-out screen. This is a singe DIN indash unit with DVD and separate changer. I was hoping to change it for a unit that is just a touch screen, with MP3/4, USB socket, no need for DVD. Anyone know if there is such a thing? Lucky - I was trying to read the brand of yours from the photo but cant make it out. How deep is that unit? Is it MP3/4? Does it have USB?

Edited by crafty on Saturday 26th January 07:22

Hi Crafty,

On the Mk4 ford units (stubby ones), the switch at the end is for the wash wipe. If you push the switch away from you, that is the rear wiper switch on position. If you push again, there is a sprung position for rear wash.

In answer to your question, yes, you could configure the end switch as a horn and the rear wash for the front screen wash. I picked mine up on ebay brand new for about £5 each. I think there is a different version though for cars without a rear wiper, so make sure you get the right one. Mine have the following part numbers:
Wash / wipe: AG17K478CA, (Also part numbers 8380 01 and G48 190)
Lights / Indicators: 86AG13B302AA

I used these mainly because I didn't like the way the Mk5 stalks stuck out from behind the wheel. They are fine on a standard ford car, but when you have the smaller steering wheel on an Ultima, they are a bit too long IMHO. If you use separate units, you can bring them closer together so it looks neater and the switches are just in the right position.

Here are a couple of pics of my setup. I couldn't be bothered finding mating connectors, so I soldered straight to the pins. If you have the loom though, it would be better to use it as it would be easier to change a stalk if you have a fault.

Front


Back


Wiper Controls


Light and Indicators

[LuckyP]

Crafty,

My ICE man is working in Hong Kong at the moment. Handy that eh?

I'll dig out a contact and mail it you.

Pete

[LuckyP]

Crafty,

My ICE man is working in Hong Kong at the moment. Handy that eh?

I'll dig out a contact and mail it you.

Pete

[crafty]

Thanks guys!

Edited by crafty on Sunday 27th January 02:09

[crafty]

1 hour of searching ebay and the web.... It seems that the MK4 (stubby ones) are much harder to find than the MK5 ones. Ebay's got loads of new MK5s... no seller has new wiper and indicator stalks (both) for MK4.

Shipping is going to cost me, and I dont want second hand.


Does anyone either have a set of MK4 ones they want to offload, or have a contact for a reliable parts centre?

Edited by crafty on Wednesday 30th January 05:16

[V8 Vum]

Hi Dav

Your comment:
In answer to your question, yes, you could configure the end switch as a horn and the rear wash for the front screen wash. I picked mine up on ebay brand new for about £5 each. I think there is a different version though for cars without a rear wiper, so make sure you get the right one.

Are you saying get the one WITH or WITHOUT rear wiper function?

cheers

keith

[crafty]

My search continues for a new set of MK4 - found the indicator but not the wiper...

[crafty]

[Davrianman]

V8 Vum said:

Hi Dav

Your comment:
In answer to your question, yes, you could configure the end switch as a horn and the rear wash for the front screen wash. I picked mine up on ebay brand new for about £5 each. I think there is a different version though for cars without a rear wiper, so make sure you get the right one.

Are you saying get the one WITH or WITHOUT rear wiper function?

cheers

keith

Hi Keith,

It depends what you want really... If you have one with, then you could configure the rear wash to do something else (like window wash), so that you can use the end push button for the horn.

Not sure if this would be a good idea pre SVA though as the labeling on the stalks would be wrong.

Cheers,
Mart

[crafty]

Mart,

Do you have a diagram for the wiring on yours - or a list of the pinout assignments?

[eliot]

crafty said:

1 hour of searching ebay and the web.... It seems that the MK4 (stubby ones) are much harder to find than the MK5 ones. Ebay's got loads of new MK5s... no seller has new wiper and indicator stalks (both) for MK4.

Shipping is going to cost me, and I dont want second hand.


Does anyone either have a set of MK4 ones they want to offload, or have a contact for a reliable parts centre?

Edited by crafty on Wednesday 30th January 05:16

Try this guy, he will ship international. Perhaps link to the photos on this thread.
http://www.fordpartsuk.com/PARTSREQUEST.htm