Back up light switch

[fasteddy]

I have a 66 bronco that has been converted to a floor shift with stock running gear. I have added back up tail lights which the early 66 models did not have. Where and how is the back up switch mounted? The original had a brake light switch mounted on the master cylinder. I have installed the power brake master cylinder which does not have an opening for the brake pressure switch. Thank you for any comments or suggestions.

 

[DirtDonk]

Hey fasteddy, welcome to classicbroncos!

Yep, time for some tweaking of parts to work with yours.
For the backup lamp switch, the originals from later '66 to '77 with manual transmissions a small plunger-type switch was literally clamped to the lower steering column so that when the column shifter was in REVERSE it pushed the switch. Simple.
In your case, a floor shift was never offered by Ford, so you will have to come up with something using either aftermarket parts from Hurst or whoever, or source a standard plunger switch as used on Fords and GM vehicles (and probably most others) and rig up a bracket.
Actually, the original Bronco version was very compact (https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/3-Speed-Backup-Light-Switch/Bronco_Performance_Lights) and might be easier to make fit in the limited space offered in Broncos. Some floor shifters even have a place to mount a switch so that you don't even have to make a bracket like I did.

You'll need to do something similar for the brake light switch. Since the '66 pedal does not have the pin sticking out to mount the standard Bronco light switch to (https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Brake_light_switch/bronco-brake-pedal) you will need to fab up some kind of mounting bracket to hold the standard long-throw plunger switch.
You can decide whether a compress-to-activate or an extend-to-activate switch would work better for you. There are a few discussions about how others did theirs, but I don't have any handy links saved. Sorry 'bout that.

Luckily there was one fairly recently so someone should be able to direct you to the discussions.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Just learned something else new tonight. Watching last week's Barret-Jackson auction there was a late fifties Chevy with the "backup lamp delete" option!
I never really thought of someone not wanting backup lamps if they were available, but apparently anything to save a few bucks, or to keep your tail light lenses all red, was worth it!;D

Paul

 

[Steve83]

...the '66 pedal does not have the pin sticking out to mount the standard Bronco light switch...

Then how does the MC pushrod attach to the pedal?

 

[DirtDonk]

Good question Steve. I misspoke by saying "no pin" but I remember reading here several that have tried to use the standard switch and it not fitting. So either I'm remembering it incorrectly, or there is a difference in the pin that does not allow the fitment of the switch.

How's about it guys? Who's tried it?

Paul

 

[Rocko1012]

I went from having backup switch on column for 3 on tree. To floor shift with backup lights on a Toggle Switch mounted under hey switch on dash. Works Great, just need to remember to turn off.

 

[fasteddy]

Hey fasteddy, welcome to classicbroncos!

Yep, time for some tweaking of parts to work with yours.
For the backup lamp switch, the originals from later '66 to '77 with manual transmissions a small plunger-type switch was literally clamped to the lower steering column so that when the column shifter was in REVERSE it pushed the switch. Simple.
In your case, a floor shift was never offered by Ford, so you will have to come up with something using either aftermarket parts from Hurst or whoever, or source a standard plunger switch as used on Fords and GM vehicles (and probably most others) and rig up a bracket.
Actually, the original Bronco version was very compact (https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/3-Speed-Backup-Light-Switch/Bronco_Performance_Lights) and might be easier to make fit in the limited space offered in Broncos. Some floor shifters even have a place to mount a switch so that you don't even have to make a bracket like I did.

You'll need to do something similar for the brake light switch. Since the '66 pedal does not have the pin sticking out to mount the standard Bronco light switch to (https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Brake_light_switch/bronco-brake-pedal) you will need to fab up some kind of mounting bracket to hold the standard long-throw plunger switch.
You can decide whether a compress-to-activate or an extend-to-activate switch would work better for you. There are a few discussions about how others did theirs, but I don't have any handy links saved. Sorry 'bout that.

Luckily there was one fairly recently so someone should be able to direct you to the discussions.

Good luck.

Paul

Thanks Paul for the suggestions. I did mount a
small push button switch on the side of the floor shifter. It would work in reverse, but also the back up lights would come on when shifting into 2nd gear. HaHa. Tempting to go ahead but I think a remote switch on the dash would suffice as suggested. I was at Wild Horses Swap Meet in Lodi last weekend and saw a transmission with a back up switch installed in to the side of the case. It makes contact internally when shifting to reverse. Don't really want to change out the transmission at this time. So, a $2.95 single pole switch will work. Thanks again.

 

[DirtDonk]

Cool. But I would think the switch you installed could be relocated to only work with the reverse arm. When I did my floor shifter I re-used the original Bronco backup lamp switch from the column (mine's a '71 so it had one), extended the original wires, and mounted it to the shifter. Worked great an only in reverse, so I'm sure you can get it to work as well.

The transmissions with backup lamps built in are swap units, such as NP435's or modern 5-speeds and such. No Bronco trans came with a backup lamp switch, but in '72 and '73 there were models with the "ambient switch" system that had a switch screwed into the case, somewhat up high and near the front mounting flange.
If that's what you saw it was an ambient switch. And while it might be used as a switch for lights, it's not activated in reverse so would not work in this situation.

Paul

 

[fasteddy]

Thanks for the clarification Paul. I will keep looking at the the shift rods and try and figure out a mounting bracket for the back up switch. I am installing the new wiring harness right now. American Wire Harness, which I think is overboard on the features that I don't have.
Thanks again and look forward to your posts on other Bronco Problems.

 

[DirtDonk]

I can't really claim to have "made my own" when it comes to the bracket.
I looked in my box-o-goodies and found an old (but at the time, not THAT old!) little angle bracket like used to come in radio install kits and switch kits.
Little 90 degree angled chrome thingy with a hole already drilled in it that was the perfect size for the stock switch!
I'd have to go out and see where I mounted it, but I was not that clever back then so it couldn't have been that hard.;D

Worked great for a long time. You might even dig around your shifter's frame panels and parts to see if there is a particular corner near the reverse shift arm that happens to have a nice 3/8" or so sized hole in it. Might be just the place to put a switch.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[DC_Gearhead]

I installed this and it worked like a charm.


https://www.cjponyparts.com/hurst-b...MIyvvtiMyf5QIVAobICh2xuwVAEAQYASABEgJEbfD_BwE

Coulda made it after seeing it....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Comemonday71]

Hey Fasteddy!

As DC_Gearhead did I too installed the same switch he did. When I bought my ’71 some 30+ years ago the PO had installed a Hurst shifter. Just a few weeks ago I had to change out my reverse switch as it was frozen. I bought my switch (w/o bracket) from Tom’s.

Good Luck!

 

[DC_Gearhead]

Hey Fasteddy!



As DC_Gearhead did I too installed the same switch he did. When I bought my ’71 some 30+ years ago the PO had installed a Hurst shifter. Just a few weeks ago I had to change out my reverse switch as it was frozen. I bought my switch (w/o bracket) from Tom’s.



Good Luck!

When i got the kit i was mad because i could have just made the bracket and gone to Radio Shack......but i think Radio Shack is out of business, right? Super simple setup you could make, but sometimes it is nice to just bolt something on and have it work. That doesn’t happen very often with these Broncos.


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[fasteddy]

Back up switch

Thank you for the suggestions on mounting the back up switch. Looks really good and I will order that switch from CJ Pony or Tom’s Bronco. Thanks again.