The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 65 stepside back up lights

My new 65 has nothing at all in way of backup lights. I can buy replacement lights ok but have no clue as to how they worked in past.
Did they actually work when you put it in reverse? HA.
Is it worth pursuing? I was going to rig a manual switch to turn them on when I need them.

Vehicle inspection in Louisiana is strict. No sticker and you get nothing like plates, insurance etc. I simply told the guy they didn't have backup lights back then and he thought that was cool and gave me a sticker. I'm rolling!

O BLUE 65 stepside

Back Up lights were not required tell 1966, so all 1966 & newer should have them, 1965 & older only got them as an option.

Your best bet is to just hook them up with a dash mounted switch.

Here in Utah the only requirement on back up lights is that they are not on when going forward, if they don't work in reverse, no big deal.

Check out E-bay and the swap meets. You may get lucky and find an original dealer backup light kit. These included all the parts to install them, the lamps. switch, and harness. They should inculd both the column and floor shift parts for the switch. I found one for the '55, still in the original box. It wasn't cheap, $250, but I think that it was worth the cost to have lighting when i back up. The only change i made was putting halogen bulbs in for more brightness.

Thanks Jolly your reading my mind. Longbox, I am inclinded to do the original thing but my column is giving me all sort sort of trouble right now with shifting (another post answered today) that I think I want to stay away from it. I did not know they were an option. I have the holes in the back where they were mounted but I found no wires or anything at all that indicated they ever were there. So I think I will go the way of the switch.

shor,

Didn't most transmissions come with a switch installed in the tranny to address the backup lights. I don't know if this would be the case with yours, but if so, it certainly would be more convenient than having to manually switch every time you wanted to back up.

The switch usually had two poles, and was NO (normally open). When the transmission was shifted into reverse, a ball, or plunger was depressed closing the switch and completing the circuit. They are sometimes hard to spot..covered with gunk and hidden. It might be worth the search.

Stuart

To answer your question atomarc, no, not until the SM465 4 speed did one come with a internal switch. The 3 speeds were mounted to the shift levers on the column. Installed plenty of these at the various full service gas stations where I worked after school and early in my military service. Shor; if you go the switch route mount a idiot light next to it to remind you to turn it off, that way the local cop don't have to.

Spareparts2

Thanks for the info. Sure miss those full service gas stations.


Stuart

Ok thanks Spareparts2. I will go that route.

steve
shor
O BLUE
65 stepside