The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Back up lights

I'm just curious if anyone on the 'Bolt has ever put back up lights on an A.D. bodied pick up with the stock trans? What kind of bracket and switch? How did you attach it? etc?

Stingray

Technical article from Jim Carter\'s

This is for a Task Force Suburban, but there is a good picture of the type of switch you would need to rig up. I doubt it would be too difficult, just need some time and some trial and error.

I just rewired my truck ... it had no backup lights, but there were two ambers below the tailgate that were being used as turn signals. So, when I rewired, I changed it so that my brake lights also operated as turns, and I wired the ambers for backups.

Next I'm gonna buy two backup (white) lights for a 53 Chevy (mine's a 54) and put them where the ambers are.

You can see pics at my site link (below my sig) - see link for "Bed Roll Tail Lights" ... also, I didn't hook up the backup lights to work with my tranny -- instead, I'm using a toggle switch under the dash. It's simpler, and also, a nice way to blink "thank-you" messages on the road.

Alan
54 Chevy Pickup

OK, GMCpanel, I'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other.......I see an article on 60 -66 fleetside back ups and task force tail lights. What am I missing?

The article I was looking at is in the lower batch of articles ("General Information"), talking about a rare Task Force Suburban back-up light. That article has a picture of a switch for a 4-speed transmission. If your truck has a 4-speed, you would need to rig up a switch like that, or just put a toggle switch on your dashboard and do it by hand. If you have a three speed column shift, you might be able to find a switch from a later truck that you could adapt. I don't know anything about those shifters, so I can't help you there.

Back up light ????? Very simple, If you happen to have one installed, turn your spot light around to face the rear and hit the "GO BABY GO" switch

Just don't forget to turn it off when you start going forward.

Cmayna is correct. My '51 has a spot light and it is invaluable as a backup light. 53 4 me has dual spots and that's like seeing a 747 landing on the road when they are both on and backing up.

Goof on spotlights all you want, but when you have to back out of a tight spot that is unfamiliar at night you will thank your spotlight.

Signal stat used to make a pair of front clear lens front directional lights that can be added to the rear fenders of an AD truck and then wired as backup lights. They actually throw off a lot of light and don't look too bad.

Those spots as backups serve a REAL powerful function when some jerk is behind you with their highbeams on, too!

That's illegal, Horvath. I have had people do that to me just to be A-holes, and I didn't have my high beams on. I about ran off the road with spots before my eyes.

Ouch. I heard someone make that point on another board and I thought it was cool ... until I heard your report. Josiah!

Hey -- when you guys talk about your spot lights, where are they located on your truck??

Boy Horvath,
Talking about being spanked !!! Isn't there only one decent spot to put a spotlight so you can blind those
!@#$% tailgaters ??

I don't know about them being illegal, but 4ontheFloor is right ... a jerk abusing them on the road can really mess you up I guess.

I still like the idea of spots for backing up ... but I'm wondering if you guys were talking about spots in the rear of the truck, or them cool teardrop spots that are usually by the driver door.

The Unity 5.5" spotlight on the doorpost has the ability to see about 300 degrees around the truck. The only place you can't shine it is on the passenger door, but you can shine it through the passenger (and other) windows and out the other side. They are surprisingly bright, maneuverable, and useful. Dual spots are like having a fire engine in your driveway...which by the way is why you ALWAYS see the exact same light on nearly every firetruck out there.

Yeah! The Unity 5.5" sounds like what I want!


Thanks, OldCK! WHERE do you buy 'em?

I've junked more of those dang old spotlights, and had to fix hole in window frame too! Later year, thinking 67 Chevy SM420 4spd is only one with back-up light switch in cover. Not sure if you can just swap covers to others or not. I don't see why you couldn't use a brake switch, lever type like on your truck that gets hit by the brake pedal and use it somewhere that pushes on it when putting the 3spd linkage into reverse. Maybe mount on firewall and have linkage hit it??
For the lights, you can buy clear lights at most auto places or truck/trailer places and wire them in, mount somewhere in back and use a fuse on hot side, your in!

I have backup lights on my 55 2nd. I bought the NOS kit off Ebay.

I have the 3 speed on the column. Under the dash, the switch is a plunger type with a lever connected to the shift rod. When I put the transmission in reverse, the rod pushes on the plunger. This turns the lights on and off as the transmission is in reverse. No switches to forget about.

In the back, I cut two brackets out of steel I bought at Home Depot for the backup lights to mount onto. I drilled a couple of holes and mounted them just above my tail lights.

We live in a city (Dallas) and I believe it is safer to let others know when I am backing up. We have way to many lexus' and suburbans for me to put either my family or self in harms way. They look cool, too.

I have pictures but do not know how to post them.

Thanks G. L. that's not a bad idea. I was kinda hoping someone would come up with a part # from the 70's that would bolt right to the tranny.

I don't want to be messing with a switch under the dash. And, I'm certainly not going to use a spotlight when I'm downtown trying to back up out of a parking space on a busy street!

Ok so what about us guys with the four speed trannys? What options are there for us?

Just wondering?

If you could find an oil resistant microswitch you could mount it under the cover so that the reverse shift tang hits it when reverse is selected. Then just drill a small hole in the cover for the wires and silicone it to seal it.

No, they made a stock B/U light switch as an option. I was able to get a NOS unit through the Swap Meet. It came with the intruction sheet. No, I won't part with it (future plans); but I do suggest putting a want ad in the Swap Meet here and see what happens.

Back-up light switch for SM-420
side view

gmc248 so how does that back up light switch work? Does it sit up top of the trany?

thanks

This is from the instruction sheet .

ok Well after looking at that sheet the only thing I can figure out it that once you shift into reverse the lower part is forced into contact with the upper part by hitting the transmission case (specifically the shift tower). Does this seem correct? Is the lower part an actual switch like a( mid 70's chevy) brake pedal switch?

Thanks for posting the pics!

Yes, it's a switch. Just a plunger type switch. I have not installed this yet myself, but I will in the future when I get another GMC.
I thought it was a cool NOS item.

Maybe you could procure one from the swap meet here at the 'Bolt..... Or make one from the drawing........

GMC 248 thanks for the link to the back up light switch.... Whats behind that blacked out area ??? It was put there for a reason.

I think it says for sale by Mothertrucker but he had to black it out. :p

No, it had a business card attached there.

I don't want to create a conflict with the "No Sales" policy on the board; even though the image is "off-site".

Well ....... That was only for the switch. You would be supprised to see what the actual back up light & mounting hardware looks like for the AD trucks.

Got any pics? Is it hokey looking, or does it look "factory"?

I dont make things that look like crap ! As a matter of fact the b/u light is identical to the original dealer installed unit !!
Because of the secrecy involved with the switch..... I will keep pictures of the back up light & mount " secret "

Pictures of the elusive AD truck back up light unit are avaliable if you request a picture by email. & yes Tony if you request a picture you can post it

M.T., just watchin' yer back, that's all. Didn't want to make trouble over a back-up light switch (or light, for that matter). I hope to see pics soon.....

Check these out......I like the round ones

Can\'t see this one very well...........

Original instruction sheet

This is a pretty hot item, 32 hits. Not the first time it has come up but the first time I've seen the after market switch. I don't suppose anybody makes repops. The way it works looks easy enough and the machining shouldn't be hard.

That is not a picture of an aftermarket switch.
That picture is the GM 4 speed switch. There was also a switch for the 3 speed column shift that mounted on the steering column .

well, if it's of interest, I've been scanning the 57 accessory manual and translating to html - bu light is RPO 987454 [no business cards added ] - I'll leave it there for awhile for anyone who wants to save it all to their puter [consists of 4 pages and 6 pics] - can't be much different from 30's to 60's . . . the light shown for the stepside fenders looks almost the same as front park light for 55-57, which is repro'd

Bill

That light assembly looks eerily similar to a '57 front turn/parking light.........?

yes 248, the light is the same, but w/ a piece that adapts it to the angle of the fender, which could be easily fabricated by a good bodyman - the panel looks like it just uses the light as-is

Bill