mattiff Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 So after a crappy day of driving for three hours to referee a football match that was never going to be played I eventually get home to find that I have a package waiting for me. My retrimmed steering wheel. Not going to say much and just let the pictures do the talking. LOVE IT! it's even better than I thought it would turn out. The smooth Nappa leather smells lush and it all feels great. You'll have to use your minds eye as to it being fitted but it will be done on Friday, or maybe tomorrow if the anticipation gets the better of me. The wheel was retrimmed by Jack of www.royalsteeringwheels.com I cannot recommend him enough, had dramas with the posting it back but he got it all sorted and with no hassle. Top service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bholm Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 That looks fantastic! Can I ask how much it was? Sent from my GT-I9195 using Ford OC mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baileydog Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Leather !Removed!, I need red stitching on mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scousa Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 That looks beautiful fella... but you're a ref so you'll need to get the rest of your car done to gain respect from me haha only messing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Cheers guys, it cost £115 delivered. I did have to buy the spare one from eBay to be done as I wasn't prepared to go without the use of my car, I'll make the cost of it back when I sell on my original. Bailey dog, he can do any type of stitching you like, plus any combo of leathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 So today I went into work to find there was no poor whatsoever. So we hung around until about midday until we finally got told to go home. I then though, hmmm best get the new steering wheel fitted, so here's the boring half leather standard one prior to removal.Then after much hassle and stress because of a fiddly Ford design on it's airbags I got the old one off.Took much less time to get the new one on and sitting nicely.Managed to Jam the horn on when I first fitted it which no doubt pleased the neighbours lol. A few more shots then:I also fitted some double sided tape to the leather seat belt stalk covers as no matter how tight I fitted them they still slipped down. Not anymore :)So now that's done, I just need to keep an eye out for the black dash and other bits. I'm sure eventually one will come up. Although the pictures do make it seem very bluey it's not actually that bad in real life, certainly could live with it if need be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted February 16, 2014 Author Share Posted February 16, 2014 Was going to wire in the scuff plates today but when I ventured into my tool box I found my soldering irons tip was gone so had to put that on hold for a bit while I order a new one as Halfords, wickes etc just sell the irons themselves with no new tips.Decided whilst I was in the mood I would also fiddle with the air box on the car, now before anyone jumps in i'm not expecting any power increases but if it makes things slightly smoother then great, if it does nothing then oh well. I've never liked where the car originally draws air as it takes it from the panel underneath the slam panel but this doesn't have a direct feed of cold air. Plus the air has to come up then do a 180 turn, down, another 180 turn then into the airbox which seems unnecessary to me. So removed all that gubbins and angled the feed towards the side to draw cold air from the gap to the side of the rad etc.And the air box sat back in the car, you can see it angled to the side, I will try and affix a bit of piping that draws it a bit better maybe.It was whilst looking in my engine bay I decided that it was minging and needed a clean.The outside of the car wasn't much better.So got busy with the jet wash and cleaning gear. My wheels bleed a fair bit:ResultsMuch better :). After cleaning it I thought I would try and rejig the airbag as since fitting the wheel it didn't quite sit right. Que it being very stiff to remove and me losing my rag a bit and bang off it came along with the airbag plug :censored:Have had to leave it like this in order to drive itLesson learnt there as being an impatient bugger has cost me the best part of £70 in a replacement steering ring :(:(. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Right then, good weather and some red bull meant I had theenergy to finally wire in the illuminated scuff plates, feels like years ago Ibought these. First job was to remove the seats and centre console trim to giveme plenty of access and be able to get my hands under the carpet. Running the wire was straight forward after this, but I wasfiddling around with the fuse box and swearing a lot when I realised that I wasreading the instructions wrong and I needed to wire it into the wires comingfrom this plug. Before I could solder them in I decided to tidy the wire upand use the small zip ties provided in the kit to keep them in against theexisting wiring. Next job was to strip the wires and tin them. Bought thislittle thing a while back and it makes wire stripping so much easier. Used some old carpet I had in the garage to stop and solderdamaging the car interior. Soldered the wires like the instructions dictates, it doesprovide a crimp piece to use in the kit but I prefer to solder them togetherthan crimp. Once done I covered them in heat shrink and shrunk it as best Icould with the soldering iron, I sadly do not own a heat gun. All zip tied upand put back in. Tidied the rest of it up. Would be a waste not to give the interior a thorough hooverwhilst the seats were out, just to get those annoying bits you can't normallyreach. So I waited until the early evening to let the light diedown a bit and had a look :) The observant amongst you will have realised that I havealso fitted another little mod. I bought the new aluminium pedals online lastweek and they took two seconds to fit. All in all a successful day I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Divszy Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Looks Mint... specially with those wheels... Trying to get some of those myself... Leather interior is good aswell and loving the look of the scuff plates... tempted to get those myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 Looks Mint... specially with those wheels... Trying to get some of those myself... Leather interior is good aswell and loving the look of the scuff plates... tempted to get those myself Cheers, keep an eye on eBay for the scuff plates as new from Ford they are an eye watering £300. I'll be getting the wheels refurbished soon as they have a lot of scuffs and marks, from the previous owner of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b4zz Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 looks like some one has been a busy boy lol. looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 Right well that's the alloys booked in for refurb in two weeks as well as de chrome part one. Can't wait now :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristriple Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Some Good reading in this thread! Car is real nice. I envy people that have threads like this one. Not brave enough to just "have a go" myself! You make some of the cleaning seem like a tiny job? Either I'm using the wrong products, or you have a lot more free time than I do. Engine bay or under the arches/behind the wheels is something I can never find the time for! I'm impressed! Sent from my KFTT using Ford OC mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted April 12, 2014 Author Share Posted April 12, 2014 Engine bay takes no time at all, I've kept on top of it since I bought it but if was an untouched older car it would be a lot more work. Your right about the arches, getting the wheels off each corner etc takes a while but worth it once done. My background in work is electrical engineering so most of the stuff is straight forward, working around mechanics for years and helping out on military vehicles which weren't such a big deal if I did it wrong first time also helps lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristriple Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 What do you use on the engine bay? Do you do a "real" clean? Or is it just the appearance of being clean? Know what I mean?? You know the annoying thing? I did the kind of cleaning that your doing on my fiesta mk 6 zetec s. I bought it new, so I figured it must be worth doing. Regular waxing, wheel sealing etc. It made zero difference to its value when I sold it. Must have spent hundreds on cleaning products and thousands of hours keeping it "mint". Sent from my KFTT using Ford OC mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 I use a detailing brush and some apc to remove built up stuff, followed by a low pressure rinse with the jet washer. After that it's the same again but with a cloth on the bigger surfaces and once that's dried I spray it all with aerospace 303 to give it the depth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristriple Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 I've always thought that you shouldn't spray water directly into the engine bay? That there's a risk the car won't start afterwards? Sounds like that's where I'm going wrong! Job would be much easier with a pressure washer! Sent from my KFTT using Ford OC mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff4155 Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 I do think in some cases it can be a problem, but I do spray inside the engine bay, I just keep away frome the important stuff like the air filter and then drive around after everything is clean, so theres no standing water anywere, working with a high pressure gun with the setting on low helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted April 27, 2014 Author Share Posted April 27, 2014 So yesterday I dropped the fez off at the bodyshop for the wheels etc to be done. Looking forward to seeing them all done on Wednesday. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted May 4, 2014 Author Share Posted May 4, 2014 Right then, operation de-chrome entered phase one recently. I bought a replacement boot handle some time ago from eBay and whilst it was described as having scratches I hoped I could polish them out. Sadly I couldn't and so whilst the wheels were being refurbed I asked the bodyshop to respray the panel. So here's the old one with chrome:Yuk, so interior trim off:Was then a case of five nuts and a cable to undo and a fair bit of jiggery pokery and it was free:Yuk again, mankey dirt was cleaned up:The badge on this had a slight bit ov overspray on it and whilst I could have removed it, it was also faded so missus hairdryer was deployed:And finally the new panel was on and the colour match was spot on :) :) looks soooo much better than tacky chrome to me.I will pop to Ford some time this week and get a new badge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisroberson99 Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Stunning Fez you have there! I've just read through the whole thread, amazing work! I especially like the leather interior, it really suits the car. I have to say, I preferred the slightly chromed look even though it's hardly noticeable with the silver. I think gives a nice contrast, especially with other colours such as Lime Squeeze! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted May 4, 2014 Author Share Posted May 4, 2014 I imagine some may like the chrome but I really don't. It's not to bad on a silver car like mine but have seen it on black ones and it really stands out on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisroberson99 Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I only like a little chrome, things like chrome wheels and other parts look naff! I am not a fan of 'modding cars', but your car looks really food as the are subtle and mostly genuine parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattiff Posted May 7, 2014 Author Share Posted May 7, 2014 Popped to Ford to pick some bits up :) Picking some more up on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRE17_ Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Looking good! I really like the leather seats, not sure about the leather pouches for the seatbelt insertion looks abit too much with them in. Wheels like ace! be nice to see them shining like brand new!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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