Back up/reversing lights

[Seaside Pete]

Hi

 

I am wanting to fit some back up/reversing lights on my P15. Does anyone know if there is a point on the gearbox or linkage to fit a switch? I seem to recall seeing a spring loaded remote switch somewhere but I can't recall where (must have a touch of oldtimers).

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Pete

[DonaldSmith]

I added a backup light to my 47 DeSoto. 

 

On the steering column under the hood, I mounted a microswitch that was activated by the shift lever when I moved the selector up to the reverse position.  

 

Since I have a semi-automatic transmission, the shift lever is moved up only when shifting into reverse.  A three-speed transmission would need a second switch for when the selector is pulled toward the driver, and both switches would have to be on for the backup lights to work.

 

When I modified my steering column in the process of installing power steering, I no longer had a steering column jacket for mounting the switch.

I think I mounted, or intended to mount, or dreamed I mounted, a switch at the side of the transmission to be activated by the appropriate shifting rod and lever.  Again, I only needed one switch.  The shifting levers are different for the 3-speed transmissions.

 

Dang! I think I have photos somewhere.  (extensive search to begin)   

[Seaside Pete]

Thanks Donald. Some pic's would be great.

 

Pete

[Mark D]

I bought a vintage reverse light kit from ebay last year to work with a stock p15 light that I fitted.  The kit came with a momentary switch that is mounted to the steering column in the same fashion as Don describes above. It was reasonably priced and I think I paid $20- for it.  I beleive stock reverse light kits came with a dash mounted switch from what I can tell, however those switches seem to be worth their wieght in gold.  I dont have the parts installed yet, one of those rainy day projects thats on the shelf at the moment.  I'll dig out the parts this weekend and take a few pictures for you.

[Plymouthy Adams]

my 1947 D24 Custom Town Sedan Special came factory with reversing light among it many other factory appointments.  The reverse light switch is dash mounted as stated above and illuminated when the reverse light is switched on..

[DonaldSmith]

OK, here's the photo: 

 

 

Got on my side on the cold garage floor... 27 degrees out, (minus 5 south of us in Windsor)... 

 

But hey, I wanted that photo anyway. I should have taken a picture when I put in the switch.  Now I know that I wasn't dreaming about installing the switch.

 

So the lever, that corresponds to moving the selector up, contacts the switch.  I think the lever moves forward, so I think I wired into the normally closed part of the switch.  

 

For a three-speed, the levers will work differently, and if you don't want the backup light to come on when you shift into second, you will need a switch for the other lever, and wire the switches in series.  

 

[Don Coatney]

Don, I think you need to crawl back under the car and replace the shift lever tension spring.

[DonaldSmith]

Aw, do I gotta crawl under the car again to replace the shift lever tension spring?  Shees!  Can it wait 'till Spring?

 That spring looks kinda rare.  What if Ace doesn't have a match?  

So far, no symptoms.  The spring probably won't fail until I'm on the road in the middle of nowhere.

OK, replacing the spring is on my to-do list.

[Don Coatney]

You might be able to simply buff out that very rare spring

[plyroadking]

Thats pretty cool if you like making brackets, i usually just pull the plug and screw my backup light switch in the factory location.

[DonaldSmith]

At some point in time the transmissions included a backup switch, probably sometime in the early '50's.  Our old cards don't have that feature.  

 

I suppose someone could devise a way to introduce a switch into the internals, so that when the reverse gear engaged the switch would be activated.  Otherwise we are stuck with a manual switch or a switch (or switches) at the shift linkages.  

[1950 Special Deluxe]

My Canadian 1950 Special Deluxe has the screw in switch on the transmission as well.

[Young Ed]

My Canadian 1950 Special Deluxe has the screw in switch on the transmission as well.

 

I suspect that was added in 49 when the speedometer gear changed sides.

[Seaside Pete]

Thanks guys. I think I'll take a look around and see what I can find. I was really wondering if there was a plug somewhere on the gearbox to fit a switch

 

Pete

[blucarsdn]

Having worked in new car dealerships in the new car prep area in the late '40's, we installed backup, fog and/or spot lights on a regular basis.. There are generaaly two kinds of accessory backup light switches. One has a tightly wound spring arm, the more common type has an arm that can be left or right. The switch generally mounts on the steering column below the firewall. The switch is positioned so it will come into contact with a shift lever or shift rod.

Stick transmission pose more of a problem. The switch has to be mounted to the floor, a small arm attached to the stick, which ingages the switch.. .

As a general rule backup lights are energized in an automatic manner in lieu of the driver having to remember to flip a switch on the dash, etc.

[Mark D]

Thats pretty cool if you like making brackets, i usually just pull the plug and screw my backup light switch in the factory location.

Wow I just realized that I don't have to install the gear I mentioned I my prior post since I will soon have my R10 installed! Now all I got to do is buy a switch.

[plyroadking]

The switches are common, spacing is something you probably want to check before you install the trans in the car. If it threads into far it can jam up the shift rod, not far enough and it wont make the switch. A piece of gasket material is not enough spacing and a washer is too much. EBay has several under $20 that look like they come with an original crush washer