Reverse light options

[SquareRoot]

Does lokar make a speed manual shifter?

Why you asking hard questions? Lol. Actually I don't know if they even make manual shifters. I may have spoken to soon. On the other hand, I assumed all manual trans had swithches built-in? I guess I've gotten old and have forgotten how ancient this period correct stuff has become. In that case, an LS and NV4500 is in order.

 

[83Stepper]

Why you asking hard questions? Lol. Actually I don't know if they even make manual shifters. I may have spoken to soon. On the other hand, I assumed all manual trans had swithches built-in? I guess I've gotten old and have forgotten how ancient this period correct stuff has become. In that case, an LS and NV4500 is in order.

Yeah the LS option is a few years down the road. Have a kid who's going to be looking at colleges this year and they're going into the medical field. So...... lol
But the truck was originally a 250 I6 with a 3 on the tree so the reverse light switch is at the base of the steering column. So I'll need to customize the backup light function. Have some decent weather coming in tomorrow and hoping to get the new switch mocked up and fitted.

 

[Scruffy49]

If you already cut the floor, I’d swap to a 4spd and call it a day…

 

[Dejure]

Rick, I'm not following on how the push-pull switch would not activate in both park and reverse, UNLESS it was mounted 90 degrees to the shifter so the shift arm only activated it while in reverse.

Initially, because of space constraints, my mind went to the switch being on the park end, rather than on the side, for a push-pull, because they do take up more room than a microswitch. Thus the conclusion it would activate in both park and reverse.

A person could get around the "on in park and reverse" by using two switches. The second would be a normally closed switch and would open when you went to park the position [circuit]. The reverse would be a normally-open switch and would be closed in both park and reverse.

More of a pain to deal with (two switches), but still pretty simple, electrically speaking.

 

[Ricko1966]

Rick, I'm not following on how the push-pull switch would not activate in both park and reverse, UNLESS it was mounted 90 degrees to the shifter so the shift arm only activated it while in reverse.

Initially, because of space constraints, my mind went to the switch being on the park end, rather than on the side, for a push-pull, because they do take up more room than a microswitch. Thus the conclusion it would activate in both park and reverse.

A person could get around the "on in park and reverse" by using two switches. The second would be a normally closed switch and would open when you went to park the position [circuit]. The reverse would be a normally-open switch and would be closed in both park and reverse.

More of a pain to deal with (two switches), but still pretty simple, electrically speaking.

The switch I pictured in post 14 is only on when there is tension pulling on the spring. So you mount it where ever, but close to the transmission you put a pull wire on the spring, attached to the reverse shift lever. Now adjust your pull wire length so the switch is pulled on only when the reverse shift lever is in reverse position.When you move to neutral,1st,2nd,3rd,anywhere but reverse there would be no tension on your pull wire. And why are we talking about a park position on a 3 speed manual transmission?

 

[Dejure]

I'm thinking of the standard shift moves: 1st. 2nd, 3rd, neutral, reverse, then park. All in line.

That aside, attaching it to the revers shift LINKAGE would seem to make sense, aside that I don't know the movements of said linkage.

Said another way, I had not focused on the linkage, versus the shifter.

ALL that aside, it just dawned on me, another option would be a magnetic switch.

 

[Ricko1966]

I'm thinking of the standard shift moves: 1st. 2nd, 3rd, neutral, reverse, then park. All in line.

That aside, attaching it to the revers shift LINKAGE would seem to make sense, aside that I don't know the movements of said linkage.

Said another way, I had not focused on the linkage, versus the shifter.

ALL that aside, it just dawned on me, another option would be a magnetic switch.

A 3 speed manual does not shift in a straight line there are 2 shift levers on the transmission 1 for reverse and 1st. Another for 2nd and 3rd. I'm talking about using a pull wire on the 1st reverse lever to pull a pull wire when you go into reverse.

 

[HotRodPC]

I've been doing some research but nobody has really discussed this here, so here it goes...

My 83 stepside was originally a 4.1 and a 3 speed Saginaw on the tree and has been moved to a floor shift. Yes I know the backup switch is on the column, but need an option to move the functionality to the floor shifter. What options are those of you who have done this using? Looked at some spring pull switches for street bikes etc as a possibility. Can't use a toggle switch because my state inspection requires it to be an automated process for the backup/reverse lights to turn off and turn on. Basically looking for something that doesn't need a lot of fabrication work to make it happen. Trying to be as minimally invasive as I can, aka just being lazy lol.

Thanks!

You've got to be kidding me? Back Up lights are REQUIRED for safety inspection??? Ohh wait, you're in woke azz MA so I'm not surprised really. Damn, do they require a back up alarm too? MoneBack, MoneBack Trash truck backing up Beeep Beeep Beeep !!!

 

[HotRodPC]

I'm out, because I used a toggle switch.

The thing I liked about the toggle is I could flip the lights on for doing stuff around back in the dark, like hooking up the trailer.

K

Besides, I love them on a toggle switch. When someone is riding your azz and you get to the next light, you can turn on the back up lights with the toggle and rev your engine up. Watch them back up a bit then.

 

[83Stepper]

You've got to be kidding me? Back Up lights are REQUIRED for safety inspection??? Ohh wait, you're in woke azz MA so I'm not surprised really. Damn, do they require a back up alarm too? MoneBack, MoneBack Trash truck backing up Beeep Beeep Beeep !!!

Besides, I love them on a toggle switch. When someone is riding your azz and you get to the next light, you can turn on the back up lights with the toggle and rev your engine up. Watch them back up a bit then.

Yeah, but in a red stronghold in this blue state so it's not all that bad .
And yeah, that would definitely be fun to see the look on their faces. Almost as fun as droppimg 2 gears and dumping the clutch in my 99 LS1 6 spd powered Z28 on 495 .

 

[Dejure]

SNORT

I'd forgotten this was a three speed manual conversion question.

 

[DoubleDingo]

SNORT

I'd forgotten this was a three speed manual conversion question.

 

[HotRodPC]

SNORT

I'd forgotten this was a three speed manual conversion question.

More that than a Reverse light question for sure. But it can be done and totally custom. I'd likely rig something up where the BU lights were HOT all the time. Then I'd use one of the side cover bolts on the transmission to mount a custom made bracket insulated with rubber on both sides so it's not grounded and attach a ground for the reverse lights to that bracket. When the R shift lever on the side of the case hits the bracket, BOOM, now it's grounded and the lights come on.

Will it last? I don't know, don't give 2 fux if it did so long as it got me through inspection. Then next year when it's time for inspection again, adjust the bracket that moved, re attach the wire that came off, whatever to make it work again for another inspection.

Being from Cali and smog inspections required every other tag renewal cycle, me and my race bros would do an engine swap, and bolt on the old 2 into 1 exhaust pipe just to pass smog, then got back home and put our streep/strip engine and headers back in. We were crazy like that. He'll, we'd swap engines with a buddy for the weekend just to beat a guy from the other side of the tracks to get our $100-$200 or $300 back. You get pretty quick at it. For a 70's vehicles with no computers it was fairly quick. Only wiring was starter, alternator and dizzy, fuel line, gas pedal linkage, exhaust, heater & radiator hoses, Trans vac line, and motor mounts was about it. We didn't have power streeing and AC crap in the way on our streep/stripe rides.

 

[83Stepper]

I've got my solution installed, can't really get any pics of it because mother nature just blasted us with about 4" of snow here in central Mass. Used a street bike brake switch like in post #24 and just have it temporarily attached to the shifter bracket and the R/1 shifter linkage. She just needs to work at least once while it's in the inspection bay, beyond that it doesn't matter.

 

[HotRodPC]

I've got my solution installed, can't really get any pics of it because mother nature just blasted us with about 4" of snow here in central Mass. Used a street bike reverse switch like in post #24 and just have it temporarily attached to the shifter bracket and the R/1 shifter linkage. She just needs to work at least once while it's in the inspection bay, beyond that it doesn't matter.

Love it !!! There you go. McGyver'd it. It just has to work that one time. Sounds like a great idea though and it just might work longer than you think.