I'd missed your pictures Escortman. Thanks.
It looks your shifter is from an LS Focus, and the cutout of the console is the exact same issue I was having. Whilst I'm still lining up all my ducks and building up my plan, that is one thing I'd considered backpedalling on - the LS focus cables are a bit too long in the Fiesta engine bay, and so I was tending towards custom cables. And if custom cables are needed, I may as well use the WQ Fiesta shifter and side step the whole centre console interference issue altogether.
I came across FirstLine and their listings for Ford shifter cables. They have an aussie seller on eBay that lists the cable/sheath lengths for a range of different installs. I took measurements of the LS Focus shifter for example, and I was dead on tip to tip, but about 5mm our on sheath abutment to abutment.
First Line FKG1049
eBay FKG1049 with better dimensioning
The biggest question I have - Ford shifters seem to have a custom Abutment Sleeve/Collar that engages over the native cable abutment and slots into the abutment cradles at each end. I have two questions.
(1) Can these abutment sleeves be purchased from anywhere? I have been looking without any luck. The trick is to find a part number. OR
(2) Is there any way to cleanly remove them from unwanted shifter cables? I have been looking and trying delicately, but so far I think it either needs a special tool, or I'm going to try too hard and inadvertently enter the 'destructive' disassembly process....
Ford Gearshift Cables - with references to Abutment Sleeve/Collar
Lukeyson