A couple of modification ideas....

[Stagsongas]

Hi All,

As titled;

Steering Column and Ancillairies

Having the igntion lock on the opposite side of the column to most cars is awkward unless you only drive the Stag. Also, the rotation is counter to what you'd expect, and like many, I clattered the starter once by turning the key the worng way to stop the engine when collecting the car.

Also, the RH indicator mount stalk plays havoc both before you get used to it, and when you have, as muscle memory gives you a whole new set of problems when driving other later cars. Other drivers don't seem to interpret the wipers coming on as an indication to turn.

Also, I don't want these things to result in SWMBO reluctance to drive the car.


Question;

Has anyone thought of / tried / given up on / been sucessful with dismounting the steering column, rotating it 180 degress and having all as you would expect? Sure, the wiper and indicator arms will point down but that is solvable, the whole idea looks to be quite easliy achievable.

I'd just like to make the car a tiny bit easier to live with by not having to relearn little thing like this after a break, which will happen every Winter.

Battery Location

Like many others, I have a rubbish battery clamp which has not been fitted correctly, and requires quite a bit of work to put right, not least having to dismount the PS pump to get the battery out, and then put the clamp right. Even when correctly installed, part of the clamp is perilously close to the positive battery terminal, save for it being insulated with a bit of rubber hose.

In addition, the battery is rather small for today's standards and probably covered in expensive fairy glitter because it's 'special'. And we must not forget that having a larger battery would bring the possibility of hooking the Kenlowe up to run onwards when the engine is stopped, being switched off later by it's thermo. switch could bring great benefits to those who suffer heat soak on their electrics.

Looking below the hood stowage area there is masses of space for the taking. A nice battery plinth and better clamping arrangement would hold a much larger, longer battery whist fitting extended supply leads would be a walk in the park.

Has anyone thought of / tried / given up on / been sucessful with doing this?


Underbonnet Cooling?

A possible use for the space freed up by a successful battery relocation is to use it to give a source of cooler relative airflow ('ram air' some call it) to help reduce underboonet temps. What do you soothsayers think on that idea?


Regards

Steve

[atc40]

Hi Steve; Like you I felt the same about the ignition switch and would put the wipers on when I wanted to use the indicators, as the Stag controls seems to be the opposite of modern vehicles. I managed to get hold of a federal Stag steering cowl assembly, that has the cut out for the ignition switch on the RH side and then bought new LHD control stalks from Rimmers. IIRC they were a lot cheaper than the RHD controls. The ignition switch was then turned around. This set up is now the same as my daily driver. I have fitted my battery in the hood well quite easily, as have others, but if you go this route I suggest you uprate the battery cable. Will post pictures if you like, but off on holiday this afternoon. Andy.

[4x4]

I have a Bosch 555 059 042 battery fitted in mine. Bought from a French Hypermarket over the counter when my battery died on a trip to France. Same size as the standard Stag battery - except the terminals are the other way around. So the negative is next to the power steering pump, not the positive.

[KOY 23]

Dead easy to rotate wiper and indicator switches 180 degrees. Symbols are upside down but who cares.

[Jeff]

Like Clive Tate (and Lewis) has done loads of extensive work getting the ZF as near perfect as possible for the Stag, so did Jonathan Finis of Monarch with the wheels, brakes, suspension and steering. (Should have typed all the running gear, would have been quicker).

Have you spoken to Ian at Monarch? You could not ask for a nicer bloke. (no connection as usual)

Jeff.

[Jeff]

Dead easy to rotate wiper and indicator switches 180 degrees. Symbols are upside down but who cares.

Easy to put ignition on rhs too but this stops the steering lock working so not really a good idea insurance wise, just thought I'd mention it.

Jeff.

[Stagsongas]

Hi Steve; Like you I felt the same about the ignition switch and would put the wipers on when I wanted to use the indicators, as the Stag controls seems to be the opposite of modern vehicles. I managed to get hold of a federal Stag steering cowl assembly, that has the cut out for the ignition switch on the RH side and then bought new LHD control stalks from Rimmers. IIRC they were a lot cheaper than the RHD controls. The ignition switch was then turned around. This set up is now the same as my daily driver. I have fitted my battery in the hood well quite easily, as have others, but if you go this route I suggest you uprate the battery cable. Will post pictures if you like, but off on holiday this afternoon. Andy.

Thanks Andy,

Have good holiday!

I didn't think for one minute that my ideas where original and its nice to have them confirmed as on the right track.
Jaguars from XJ40 onward can be persuaded to give up the battery cable running right from the boot area to the front. These are more than thick enough to cope with the shorter run from the Stag hood storage area up to the engine bay without siginificant loss.

The idea of rotating the outer column was designed to ensure the steering lock would still work as the SL bolt would still line up with the cutout in the outer column. Good to know there is a choice of switchgear, I planned to have look at stuff from the rest of the BL range as they did move on to LH indicators later on, and there simply has to be some commnality with a car that I may not like to admit having part of. Who knows, I could maybe fit an Allegro 'quartic' steering wheel too

Regards

Steve

[Stagsongas]

Thanks Jeff,

I plan to visit Tate and Lewis as they are close to me, if still in Evesham. The ZF I have to have!

I will contact Monarch too, people who put in all the groundwork deserve some support.

Regards

Steve

[Staggard]

This beg's the question who is right. I am right handed ( as is most) I use the indicators and the horn ( Spanish driving) more than the wipers ( what are they for ) so I vote that we change all the moderns I rest my case M'lud

[davidf]

This beg's the question who is right. I am right handed ( as is most) I use the indicators and the horn ( Spanish driving) more than the wipers ( what are they for ) so I vote that we change all the moderns I rest my case M'lud

At the risk of boring every one (again!), this really is one thing that bugs me as I travel around the world, and as I move from my Stag to my modern plastic car. It was always standard practice to have indicators on the opposite side to the gear lever, and it still is everywhere else in the world. We changed in the '80s because, with the demise of our own motor industry, we were swamped with euro-boxes whose manufacturers could not be bothered reversing their components for RH drive. As well as the indicators being left on the wrong side, there were even some cars in those days which still had the LH drive wipers on RH drive cars.
Rant over !

[Jeff]

This beg's the question who is right. I am right handed ( as is most) I use the indicators and the horn ( Spanish driving) more than the wipers ( what are they for ) so I vote that we change all the moderns I rest my case M'lud

Just get rid of the indicator stalk, the Spanish seem to do quite well without it

[Staggard]

At the risk of boring every one (again!), this really is one thing that bugs me as I travel around the world, and as I move from my Stag to my modern plastic car. It was always standard practice to have indicators on the opposite side to the gear lever, and it still is everywhere else in the world. We changed in the '80s because, with the demise of our own motor industry, we were swamped with euro-boxes whose manufacturers could not be bothered reversing their components for RH drive. As well as the indicators being left on the wrong side, there were even some cars in those days which still had the LH drive wipers on RH drive cars.
Rant over !

Then the bloody Americans made us change our pedals on our bikes squirrels to them that's what I say

[Coppo]

It's a Triumph Stag....Thats how they were built.....Humans are more adaptable.....Get use to the way they are, it ain't that hard.....

[Staggard]

Just get rid of the indicator stalk, the Spanish seem to do quite well without it

A bit harsh Jeff TRUE but harsh

[european voyager]

Rock on Copo , I have no quams with modified cars but I like mine as Mr Triumph intended.