OK cool, with the rat trap set up, the rod that looks like fencing wire goes throu the plate at the base of the steering column, & can be changed for an automatic plate that is blank. Or the column might have been changed at some stage. If you want to fit a cable clutch you will have to drill a hole in the firewall, if you check a HX-Z-WB you will see where the hole is.

cheers
Max