[Drew W]

I just found out my LeMans Sport has no neutral safety/backup switch. How do I install one? Where does it attach? I figure I have to remove the console to get to the shifter first.

[F ROCK]

i think i remember it's on the steering column?
yes, and it might be curved to fit the radius of the column, and has a bunch of wires connected to it.
i didn't think my car had one either...until i changed the carpet and unplugged it somehow.

[HWYSTR455]

Yeah, if you don't have your backdrive linkage hooked up, make sure the column collar is turned all the way counter-clockwise.

As mentioned, check the connectors, make sure they are connected and not damaged.

Do you have reverse lights? If they don't work, you are headed in the right direction with checking the switch.

Take a look in the service manual, it can give you some insight.

EDIT: Yes, it's on the column, close to where it passes thru the firewall.


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[Drew W]

My shift linkage is on tranny hump; not the Colum.

[johnta1]

Pic of it:





That collar mentioned controls it, which has rods and linkage in engine compartment to the tranny.

[Shiny]

If you aren't familiar with the backdrive linkage and don't have a repair manual let me know.

I have a 70 but expect the linkage is the same.

I'll scan a page from my manual so you can better understand.

In general, the floor shifter has a push/pull cable that rotates an input (selector) shaft on the transmission. There is a bracket on the trans input shaft with a lever arm for attaching the shifter cable end. This bracket also has features to rotate a steel rod (backdrive rod). The steel backdrive rod in turn rotates the housing on the steering column. This rotation of the column housing then moves the reverse lockout switch. So when you move the shifter, you are both changing the gear selector on the transmission AND you are rotating that backdrive rod.

This is why HWYSTR455 suggested rotating the outer column housing. Without the backdrive rod installed, manually rotating the outer housing will actuate the switch. On my car, the switch is mounted low on the column (below dash).

It is complicated until you have the photo or walk through the parts a couple times.

The whole mechanism is like the old Mousetrap game...

[HWYSTR455]

This is the backdrive arm on the other side of the firewall, is there a rod on yours?


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[Drew W]

Well crap! I was hoping it would be as simple as bolting it to the shifter and plugging in the electrical connections

[HWYSTR455]

They do make a conversion that mounts on the shifter, but you have to hack the harness

[Shiny]

Do you have original shifter?

My car was column shift. I converted to console and used an aftermarket shifter (Hurst). The Hurst shifter did come with a shifter-mounted switch but as HWYSTR455 explains, you'd have to tie into the original wiring.. not too big of a "hack" but not "drop-in" either.

[goatmanmitch]

Does anyone know if 70-72 Monte Carlos have the same set up?

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by goatmanmitch

Does anyone know if 70-72 Monte Carlos have the same set up?

Pretty sure they do, yes, most GMs of that era have it setup that way.


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[Drew W]

Where can I get one of these rods? Mine is missing.

[Drew W]

Thanks to everyone who offered help.

[Scott Thelander]

hello
I have complete lockout assemblies
or parts

Scott
206 465 9165