Installing the switches is...
Installing the switches is possible by pulling off only the armrest, but we already had the door panel and armrest off. The switches simply plug onto pins at the end of the pink wires, so replacement is simply pulling off the old switches and pushing on the new ones.
Here's another one that's...
Here's another one that's one-screw simple: the mirror-hole cover. This triangle piece is often broken or missing; the replacement part is all of $9.99 from LRS.
The only job in this story...
The only job in this story that isn't screwdriver simple is swapping out the steering wheel. And that's only because you have to search for some of the fasteners and wrestle with one stubborn tapered fit. Ricardo started by removing the steering column trim so we could indulge our cleaning fetish. By this point, he had already threaded on the new shift knob before we could catch him in the act with the camera. It simply threads on, however, so we think you can use your imagination.
Our '91 LX has an airbag,...
Our '91 LX has an airbag, so step one was to remove the exploding baggie. Four 10mm bolts accessed behind the wheel hold the airbag in place.
Once unbolted, the airbag...
Once unbolted, the airbag simply pulls out of the wheel. Disconnect the two wiring harness plugs and the airbag can be set aside.
The trim around the cruise...
The trim around the cruise control buttons is easy-once you know where to pry. Look for tiny latches (like on a wiring harness connector) on the inside edge of the trim (where Ricardo's left index finger is here). Depress them with a small screwdriver and the trim pops off.
Next up was a detailer. Thankfully Ford used simple one-step paints back in the Fox days-no clearcoat-and seemingly three quarters of those Foxes were black. Painters and detailers love black because it has more pigment than any other paint. Black goes all the way to the primer, so you can carefully cut off the top layer to expose a much fresher layer beneath. That's what our detailer did for us, starting with a 2,000-grit-sandpaper roughing, followed by buffing with rubbing compound, and finally waxing.
This requires a practiced hand, so don't shop this job strictly on price. A good job will take one man a long day at least, so plan on spending several hundred dollars. Also be aware that only so much that can be done by cutting paint. There is, after all, only so much paint on the car, and not much can be done about crazing or thin spots. The urethane bumpers and other soft spots can also pose problems. They will probably respond best to considerable hand-detailing with rubbing compound and wax.
Once the trim is off, remove...
Once the trim is off, remove the two screws and the cruise control switches come free. Take a moment to memorize how the small wiring loom is inset to the channels in the steering wheel as you'll need to carefully stow the wires during reassembly or the airbag won't fit.
The horn switches pry out...
The horn switches pry out with a small flat-blade screwdriver, and their wiring disconnects via small harness connectors. There are a couple more harness connectors and wiring guides at the top center of the wheel; remove those now too and you're ready for the main attraction.
At the center of the steering...
At the center of the steering wheel is a bolt-it's easy to remove but the steering wheel ... not so much. It'll be seemingly welded to the upper steering shaft by a taper fit, and how you separate the two depends on whether you have a steering wheel puller (who does?) or your blacksmith skills.
Not having a steering wheel...
Not having a steering wheel puller, Ricardo began with an impact hammer and got nothing. (Note he's beating on an old bolt and not the one used to hold the steering wheel on in service.) Then he heated the connection with a propane torch and shot WD-40 into it. Nothing. Then he hammered again. Then more heat. Then he hammered. About when we were ready to give up, the steering wheel popped off as we pulled on it for the thousandth time. Heat, penetrating oil, and persistence are your best tools here.
You no sooner get the old...
You no sooner get the old wheel off then you put the new wheel on; torque the bolt 23 to 33 lb-ft with blue Loctite. The connection is keyed so there are no worries about lining anything up. Repopulate the wheel with its wires, switches, and airbag, being careful to route all the wires into their passageways, otherwise the airbag will pinch the wires when you bolt it down. Steering wheels are $369.99 at LRS with a $100 core charge, but having a handsome, soft, grippy wheel sure is nice.
Car designers talk about touch...
Car designers talk about touch points in automotive interiors, and after replacing our steering wheel, shift knob, pedal pads, window switches and so on, we have a more ingrained idea of their importance. Our car felt remarkably newer, even though we were used to the reupholstered seats and headliner, because wherever we interacted with it the feel was new. It's a nice change!
If you're bucks down, this job is mainly labor-you can tackle it one fender per night in the garage. Some technique is required, and you really do want a good electric buffer for a job this big, but it's a place to save some money while growing your skills, if you're so inclined.
We're tickled with our results. Sure, there are some swirl marks from the compounding, and we spent another day with our Mother's gear, cleaning up little corners missed by the detailer, waxing the door jambs, hitting the plastic parts with spray protectants, and so on. But the transformation is incredible. The DOA paint is now showroom shiny and smooth-and we can still say it's original.