SC Steering Column Clam Shell Covers Bodge/Fix

[jjeffries]

Hello Friends,

The steering column clamshell covers on my 82 SC were the worse for wear, the little nubs for screws to pass thru (parallel to the column itself) were broken. The two side screws, even with bigger washers, could only exert so much force and in recent weeks, the lower cover fell off. Today I was driving and looking at it sitting on the passenger seat, a symbol of creeping entropy.

My car is very much a driver, so just now I perpetrated something of a bodge, using our faithful friends, the Zip Ties. The two hard plastic moldings are pretty much toast anyhow, so I drilled four 1/8" holes in each and used the zip ties to stitch them together.

I cut the ties as flush as possible, but with the swept back stalk switches and my extended hub wheel, I shouldn't suffer any cut fingertips.

And I won't enter any car shows, but looking at my photos, I'd better go make the way these are oriented to match, side to side.

John

[scotricker]

a Manly Man fix ! Good Job !

[Jack Stands]

Either zip ties or black duct tape! Sometimes you have to improvise.

[jjeffries]

Thanks gentlemen. Sometimes we don't need to be too precious or exacting, but that said, hopefully I don't stoop to that black duct tape though ... that would be a bit much, even for me!

John

[shadowjack1]

What a great idea/fix

[Discseven]

Nice one John

[chrisbalich]

I used to do this with mkII and mkIII VWs. It's a great fix for a frustrating problem.

[jjeffries]

I was like, “that’s my thread!”.

I love zip ties and see opportunities everywhere to deploy them. My younger kid’s old Accord’s front bumper and grille is held together with them and hot glue.

That said, I’ve since replaced those covers with new repro’s from URO. They are perfect, really nice. But I’ve saved those old ones … one doesn’t toss out old P-car parts!

Best, John

[MichaelSJackson]

If you look around you'll find zip-ties that lay flat; instead of the common ones that stick out at 90 degrees. Not only do they look neater; they're much less likely to cut and scratch fingers. I never use those square head zips on any of my vehicles. Worth the effort to find and order them.

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by MichaelSJackson

If you look around you'll find zip-ties that lay flat; instead of the common ones that stick out at 90 degrees. Not only do they look neater; they're much less likely to cut and scratch fingers. I never use those square head zips on any of my vehicles. Worth the effort to find and order them.

Just did look. If this is zip you're suggesting... wonder why these are not sold alongside the "90 degree?"

[MichaelSJackson]

I find them a little harder to cinch tight, but doable. Doesn't explain the difference in marketing?