Steering wheel cowl

[oatz]

On my S2 this is a nasty bit of cheap looking plastic which doesn't fit very well.

It covers the bit behind the wheel where the indicator stalk meets the steering column.

Has anyone done anything better with this? Are there any alternative parts?

>>> Edited by oatz on Saturday 19th June 15:01

[GreenV8S]

My old S2 was the same, the two parts never lined up properly, mainly because the recesses the mounting screws go into were breaking up. However, there's a part number inside the cowl (Unipart I think) and armed with this I was able to buy a replacement cowl for a few quid. It needed to be trimmed back to clear the dashboard, but at least the two halves of the cowl fitted each other and the steering column properly after that.

[oatz]

Cool - I'll have a look. I wonder if anyone's ever covered the 'orrible plastic with leather to match the interior?

BTW - holes in yer bonnet look great!

[spivvy]

oatz said:

Cool - I'll have a look. I wonder if anyone's ever covered the 'orrible plastic with leather to match the interior? BTW - holes in yer bonnet look great!

i have them covered to match, but they still don't fit properly, so still look naff but not as obvious.

[B16 RFF]

oatz said:

On my S2 this is a nasty bit of cheap looking plastic which doesn't fit very well. It covers the bit behind the wheel where the indicator stalk meets the steering column. Has anyone done anything better with this? Are there any alternative parts? >>> Edited by oatz on Saturday 19th June 15:01

Isn't this a Sierra cowl ? On the S3 it was covered in trim material to match the dashboard.

[hoover33]

Sierra?????..... reminds me more of a few of the escorts.......ian't sure.
What ever a very poor fit that does not line up and looks SH*TE

[GreenV8S]

It was too long ago and I can't honestly remember what the cowl was off, but I have a vague memory it was a transit or something like that. Anyway you only need the part number off the inside to get a replacement.

[Mel-S3]

Replaced mine last year. Ford agent said they were early Sierra. GreenV8S is right, the part number is on the inside, they are not too cheep though, nearly £40 if i remember right - but new ones do fit a lot better.

[trickster]

I replaced the cowl on my S1 with one from a scrapyard. They are from an early Sierra - usually the estate version which does not have the column height adjustment.

Most of the ones I looked at had broken tags where the screws go. Getting a brand new one might be the best bet, but you will proably still have to cut down the top part of the cowl to get it to fit around the dash.

[peter m]

I got a top and bottom cowl from an old Sierra in the local scrappy for about £5. The number inside is the ford part number. Make sure you get the top cowl with the hole for the square hazard light switch, which is a lot harder to find than the later round type.
I also had to cut about 1/2" off the back edge of the top part to make it fit with the dash.

[Mel-S3]

peter m said:

I also had to cut about 1/2" off the back edge of the top part to make it fit with the dash.

Strange...The new ones i bought fitted fine.

[kentishs2]

My S has a shortened steering column (to accomodate a monkey with long arms) so I guess my cowlings are shorter too?

They don't fit particularly well, I was thinking of colour coding mine to doeskin to match the interior and sorting out the poor fitting at the same time.

[V8Smith]

oatz said:

I wonder if anyone's ever covered the 'orrible plastic with leather to match the interior?

After having the interior re-trimmed I covered mine to match the interior, was quite easy, but you have to stretch it a lot so as to not get any creases, if you want photos, tips etc... e-mail me.

Regards

Mike

[Oatz]

V8Smith said:

oatz said: I wonder if anyone's ever covered the 'orrible plastic with leather to match the interior? After having the interior re-trimmed I covered mine to match the interior, was quite easy, but you have to stretch it a lot so as to not get any creases, if you want photos, tips etc... e-mail me. Regards Mike

Mike - yhm!