Backup Light Switch

Now I know that my 64 cj5 with a t-90 transmission never had backup lights. But ya know, I kinda wish I had them and I would like them to go on automagically when I shift in reverse rather than just mount a switch on the dash. I noticed that my uncle's 70 cj5 has these lights with the same transmission. So my first question is, can I use the same backup light switch he's got, and if so where can I get one.

Regards
JeepWannabe

 

the switch is easy to find; any parts store should have it
the problem area will most likely be with your shift tower
the switch is activated by movement of the shift rails inside the tower
not all T90 towers have been drilled and prepped for the switch, especially the early towers (like yours)
you may have to find another tower to make it work with the shift lever
remove your floor pan to see if your tower will work; there could be a plug in the threaded port where the switch would install
hth

 

not to hijack this, but my switch refuses to work, i have continuity across the posts. ani ideas?

 

take it out and test it (push in on the ball plunger)
should be power (hot) all the time
when the shift rail touches the ball, the contact close
so bad connection or bad ground somewhere?

 

dauntless: could be the shift rail isn't making contact with the ball
switch not deep enough to make contact with rail?

 

Well...... the T-90 top assembly which bolts to the top of the transmission case either has a threaded recepticle for the backup switch or it doesn't.

If you can find the top assembly on a T-90 that has the threaded recepticle for the backup light, you can wire it up and you are OK.

If not, then you don't have "automatic" backup lights. I suppose you could drill and tap a hole, but I'm not sure that would do anything for you.

I'd look in boneyards or swap meets for that upper assembly and see if the backup light switch is there..

As long as the top assy is for a T-90 of some sort, it will bolt right in with no problem.

 

While the T90 tops will tend to fit, the shift canes are different. I found this out when I bought a T90 top for mine since it had the backup switch in it. It fit on there, but the shift cane was all wrong for my application. I suppose you could bend it but I don't have a way to do that. I've seen where people have drilled and tapped their original T90 top to accept a backup switch.

I just have mine on a switch mounted to my steering column!

Stan

 

Seems like this was discussed about a year or so ago. Might still be in archives if you do a search. Seems like someone figured out exactly where to drill and tap the hole. Nickmil.

 

Just watch out on the depth of those switches. I installed the original switch on a new tower and it threaded in too deep - I couldn't get into reverse. It was a bitch for me to figure out why I couldn't get into reverse. A couple of washers and everything was smooth.

 

Yup, simple in concept, but can get real tricky real fast in actual real world execution!

Stan

 

Thanks for the info guys, I will do some research and find out what my best option is.

 

Has anyone purchased a backup switch for the t-14 tranny? Mine has the terminals broken and I would like to get a new one. I haven't tried the parts store yet. Just curious if anyone has had any luck.

 

I think all the threaded b/u light switches on CJs were the same; only parts store difference you might see is slide on terminals or push in; slide on is better imo, not much room