Adding a B.U. light switch

tsanborn

Member
I hope I'm not abusing the privileges that come with this forum. I'm rewiring my '56 Country Sedan and it raises more than a few questions. The wagon did not come with a backup light switch but the tail lights are wired for them and the wire comes almost all the way to the engine bay. The wagon has a manual transmission so I guess the switch is activated by the linkage. I ordered the switch and bracket for a manual from Larry's Thunderbird and I just got them (see photos). The bracket seems pretty specific in how it is designed to fit. After looking under the car, I don't an obvious place where the bracket mounts. I'm hoping someone might have a photo of a mounted backup switch attached to a mid-50s car. I'm assuming they all must be pretty similar in their setup.
 

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I am going to add some attachments. One is a scan of the original KIT INSTALL DIRECTIONS and was printed on poorly bleached paper and is hard to see. The other is from the MPC -
 

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  • LAMP - BU - 1955-56 FORD - Kit Instruction Sheet _2 - STR Column SW Install - Crop (2).jpg
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KULTULZ, you did it again! Great information. As noted, the parchment attachments are difficult to read but the "Ford Car Parts" page is great. Can you tell me what the round shaft is that the bracket is attaching to?
 
PARCHMENT ...

That is the word I could not remember ... :o

The switch is mounted on the shift lever lower BRKT (7218) and RETAINER (7347) located on the lower column tube as shown on the below ILL -
 

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  • Screenshot 2021-08-05 at 20-27-49 1949-1959 Ford Car Parts Illustrations Catalog - MPC _1 - FORD.jpg
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I followed the diagram you sent and installed the b.u. switch and bracket. Everything thing went well, no blood and swearing and it now works perfectly. What am I doing wrong?
 
I followed the diagram you sent and installed the b.u. switch and bracket. Everything thing went well, no blood and swearing and it now works perfectly.

What am I doing wrong?

You got lucky and gave accurate info for once ... :o
 
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