Typical old stalk corrosion. The new ones are magic. This is about as bad as it gets:




New stalks are great and adjustable should you wish. Cost GBPounds 40. Lighting & flasher, OD out of stock at present but was cheaper due to less complexity.

 

another consideration regarding aftermarket steering wheels is the position of the left and right SPOKES of the wheel.

Spokes positioned at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock will block the view of the gauges as you drive. (first photo).

this wheel has the spokes at aprox. 10 o'clock and aprox. 2 o'clock which blocks view of some gauges.

this wheel has the spokes at aprox. 8 o'clock and aprox. 4 o'clock which gives the best unobstructed view of gauges.


Ideally, Spokes should be at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock for a clear view of speedo and tach gauges. (perfectly horizontal left to right as Jaguar factory steering wheels).

Better still, spokes at 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock offer the best unobstructed view of gauges. ( like a 1960's "Peace" sign). (second photo).

 

Who cares when you are turning the wheel all the time. Both gauges are more than visible with my wheel with both side spokes upturned slightly & looking straight ahead. Maybe a real short *** would have trouble but they would need to be really short. A midget maybe? Plus the column angle is adjustable with shims. They were a standard Jaguar fitting if you look at the Parts Manual. My car came standard new with shims fitted that you could move around. Barratts can provide you with plenty more if required & the shaft drives through a CV joint on the other side of the firewall so that's no issue. In a modern car shaft angle is adjusted by a lever or in my case the wheel is motor driven up & down & raises to its highest setting when you exit the car. Once you are seated it lowers automatically to your previous setting. Jaguar does the same thing with shims due to age of production.

The Jaguar steering wheel is adjustable in & out & the column up & down. Next thing you will want everyone to fit a huge Mk1 steering wheel instead of going from standard 17" to 15". Then you will have a centre spoke getting in your way. (4 spoke wheel) In the case of the Mk1 the gauges were centrally mounted.

 

I find that if the steering wheel is central and I can't see any of the gauges I just need to move my head which has a sort of U/J in the neck and all the gauges are clearly visible. In my Lotus Seven I rotated the Tacho 90 degrees anti clockwise so when the needle hit the red line it was vertical and in view of my eye line.

 

LOL!!! ~ If it worries you, & it sounds as though it doesn't due to being normal & having a neck like most of us. Change the column angle with shims to suit you. Your Tacho trick is common in racing circles. Some even fit a red sticker line on the glass.

 

I am very happy with my period E-type steering wheel. Had one in my 420G and have one in my Mk2. If you want smaller diameter, Moto-lita sell copy’s of the e-type wheel in different sizes. Needs the e-type boss and horn push but they can still be bought.

Mk2 1963

420G 1969

 

In my youth, I had a lot of fun driving often well worn cars quite hard. I've also spent some time with test cars that I wasn't supposed to bring back broken. I have the habit of regularly checking oil pressure, water temperature (and tachometer when pressing on). Add in that these days speed cameras have become a money making industry and I have another instrument to control. In spite of having a fully functional neck, it's a lot easier to be able to see the dials with minimal effort. It makes everything easier and long drives less tiring, less of a pain in the neck, which driving is too often these days. I've never had a problem with any Jaguar steering wheels, original or after market, though I recall irritation from other cars. An aspect I find even worse is when the wheel or my hands in their natural position on it block the flow from the air con vents giving me a hot face and freezing hands, when ergonomics become idionomics.

 

Very nice steering wheels, Sven. And what a lovely Daimler in the background?

 

Thanks!, and you are right. It is a Double6 VDP -74 which I had for more than 30 years now. Unfortunately I choose BRG instead of silver sand when I sprayed it. Apart from that it is strictly original.

 

I've had my DD6 for 30 years. It's a series 3 86-87 model in Solent Blue. When the wood and headliner are done, it should be close to original condition. They are great cars.

 

It's simply not a problem. Peter. I think you missed the point of Cass' comment or misconstrued.

Presume you are happy with the Moto-Lita your wife bought you? I can see all my gauges perfectly with my wheel above. If one can't then simply adjust the column up or down & if you feel the wheel is too close to you shove it in a little.

I hear you regarding aircon vents. Something Benz got perfect in my car thank heavens.

 

Duplicate some how. see above please.

 

As I said, I've never had a problem in a Jaguar with steering wheel position or air vents. Of course, that may be an accident of my physical dimensions relative to the car or Jaguar's good design or the accident of having managers (Lofty) and testers (Norman) of very different sizes. I know I've driven one car (a rental, I wish I could remember what it was) that was awful. There was no way of adjusting things sufficiently to suit me.

 

Crouch & Lyons used to do a lot of back to back testing. While of equal height, Leg & torso length were at opposite extremes.

Quote from Crouch. "I’m long in the leg and short in the back," ~ Lyons was the opposite.

Further from Crouch "He [Lyons] used to like to sit in the thing. He used to have his seat very upright, and he had to ensure that he could reach the steering wheel, the radio, and be able to change gear, etcetera, etcetera, and be able to wind the windows down – without too much discomfort. Similarly with the rear; rear headroom, etcetera."