Column Stalks

[listerjp2]

As you can see I am getting a move on, on the build and I am looking at column stalks.

There is a mini one that has indictors, horn and flasher on one side and wipers and washers on the other which would fit the bill.

I don’t want to pepper the dash with switches hence my question.

Will the Mini one fit the Marina column?

Adrian

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Column Stalks

Yes. I have one fitted. But you need to mount it upside down. Also not sure on which version you have - there are many. Mine is from a mid-80's car, which when upside down puts the indicators on the right & wash/wipe on the left.

[listerjp2]

Re: Column Stalks

Hi Jez do you have to mount it upside down that so the indicators self cancels? See Item number: 370550348008 on ebay.

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Column Stalks

No...just so it doesn't foul the dash moulding and stays under the tonneau..!

Self-cancel is happy either way up, subject to a couple of prongs on the back of the steering wheel hub.

Those ebay stalks look like a later version...an earlier set (MK4 I think I have - post '84) have multi-plugs compatible with a Marina loom.

This is 2/3 of it...ebay...120703264853.

[listerjp2]

Re: Column Stalks

What about these ones. They are cheaper as well. Ebay Item Number 260874132564

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Column Stalks

Still a later version I think...but at that price they could be made to fit..!

[CosworthCabrioLee]

Re: Column Stalks

Hi Adrian give me a call got lots of bits like that mat be able to help you out going to have a clear out and soon won't need any roadster spares

[jon_cox]

Re: Column Stalks

Hi Adrian,
Going to throw some thoughts in here for you.
Early Mini stalks were longer than the Marina ones as they had huge steering wheels compared to the Marina. These don't work very well in the Marlin when fitted with a small steering wheel.
Also, in the mid to late 70's the industry set the standard of indicators on the left which all modern cars now adhere to. When I drive the Marlin I constantly wipe the windscreen instead of turning on the indicators. Both annoying and dangerous.
The later Marina's and Ital's had the stalks set to a more horizontal position rather than the 10 to 2 of the earlier cars. This suits the Marlin scuttle. Although saying that, what a lot of builders have done is to use the standard bracket and Marina column shroud and simply bend the stalks to suit. This is possible because they only have a thin wire running through them. This obviously gives a neat and professional finish.
Also, check the function of the wiper stalk. It needs to support the same functions as the Marina. This is, 2 speed, intermittent, washers and self parking.
You might find that you can use those from other cars as well such as later spitfires, princess, midget, mgb, dolomites, allegros. In fact these Allegro ones look like they would work 260874596863.
When I built my car, using a Marina from 1973, I fabricated my own bracket and shroud which set the stalks at a 20 to 4 position. A lot more work to achieve the same thing as bending.
Hope this helps.
Jon

[donsayers]

Re: Column Stalks

The basic mechanism was used on Marinas, Minis, Allegros, Maxis, some land Rovers, and some Lotuses. I have probably missed a few. You can mix and match the components although not left handed vs right handed variants. They all seemed to fit the same sized steering column.

The "clunkyness" of the action can also be changed by removing one of the two detents on the indicator stalk. There is a sprung loaded ball and a sprung loaded plastic plunger. I removed the plastic plunger and got a much more up-market feel.

The stalks can be gently bent (I have a jig you can borrow somewhere) to reposition the ends, and overly long ones can be shortened by drilling out the retaining dimple. Some deft resoldering is required though.

The stalks on Wee Beastie are a mix and match set, indicators from Allgro, wipers Landrover.

The "Church window" multi connectors are now unobtainable, having gone out of production many years ago, so you will have to change them for more modern equivalents.

So trawl ebay for a while and see what bits you can find.

[listerjp2]

Re: Column Stalks

All thanks for the advise. I will carry on looking and see what comes up. I will also speak to Lee to see what he has.

Once again many thanks.

[cameronfurnival]

Re: Column Stalks

Just to re-open this thread...I have the sierra switches but they look a bit cheesey - are there any suitable replacements that dont look like ford items that anyone has tried?
I have heard that some other ford-based kitcars use renault ones? Anyone got suggestions?

[dflower]

Re: Column Stalks

Hi Cameron try this link for stalk conversions.
Rgds, Dave Flower. http://how-to-build-a-pilgrim-sumo.w...ess-stalks-mod

[terryreed1664]

Re: Column Stalks

Really nice, and an easy installation.

Terry

[cameronfurnival]

Re: Column Stalks

ooh they doo look nice. I will try and make some myself like that (well - get a nice chap I know with a lathe) and put them in after sva

[AndrewKB]

Re: Column Stalks

To go back to the original question at the start of this thread ...

I have just bought a complete set of Mini stalk controls (lights and wash/wipe on combined backplate). They were marked "Mini II" and fit the Marina steering column perfectly but, as previous correspondents have said, I will need to replace the "church window" connectors and the stalks are slightly longer than the Marina ones although they seem to sit nicely behind my 13" Mountney steering wheel as far as I am concerned. They also need the standard 180 degree flip to set them at 20 to 4 rather than 10 to 2 as in the Mini.

But the real purpose of this posting is to alert readers that Twigworth Breakers (01452 730652) - on the A38 north of Gloucester - have a good choice of 80s BL stalk controls, particularly the wash/wipe stalk. I was only replacing my Marina controls because the washer push button had broken and Twigworth had a selection of suitable wash/wipe stalks (all under £10) that I could have fitted after drilling-out the rivets holding the Marina stalk base to the backplate. I only went for the complete Mini set because it looked newer and not having to drill-out rivets meant one less task to do!

Andrew