1800: GearBox and Wiring Questions

[andrew111]

I am restoring a 1965 P1800S project car that came in bits - so am having trouble identifying certain bits and where they go.

Two questions:-
1. There is a wire travelling down through the steering column - where does it go after the steering coupling and what does it connect to?

2. The gear-lever extension part of the gearbox is about 50% full of oil. Is this correct or has the previous owner perhaps filled it to keep it serviceable whilst the car was laid up over the last 5 years? The only instructions I can see in the manuals are to fill the gearbox up to the plug level on the side. Nothing about the extension housing on top (and at the rear) of the gearbox.

Thanks

[DJS]

Hi Andrew,

The wire down the column is probably for the horn. It is on an Amazon. Do you have access to a wiring diagram?

Oil in the shifter housing sounds odd. I would drain and clean it and grease everything instead.

[andrew111]

Thanks DJS.
Yes the wire is the correct colour for the horn (as on the wiring diagram- which I have) - But how is it routed out of the steering column and to the horn? Does it pass through the steering box? If not at what point does it exit the hollow tube?

[Derek UK]

It exits out of the bottom of the steering box and should be loose at that point. It's an earth wire. When you press the horn ring/button you earth the wire to complete the circuit. If you ever need to replace the wire, use a pull through wire or string so you can pull the new one back through easily. You might have problems where it passes through the flexi joint so take it easy if doing this job.

[andrew111]

Now I Understand! Thanks for the explanation - I was rather confused with this - am grateful for the detail you have given.
The original wire has been removed - so I am sure I will have fun threading it through again.

Thanks again.

[Bladerider]

Good luck. I used a length of that small diameter green garden tie wire that costs a couple of quid, pushed it up the steering column tube from the steering box, had to separate the flexible joint to pass it through then up to the steering wheel. I then used as little tape as possible to attach the horn wire and very gently pulled it through.

[Derek UK]

Q2. Oil in the extension seems to be normal and gets there just from splashing up from the box. If you look inside you'll see a half moon slot under the rod/bush, the oil gets into it there. Will help to keep things lubricated in there. Park facing down on a steep hill and most of it will drain out. Said tongue in cheek, but it probably will. A GOOD handbrake needed!