1969 Back Up Switch Location
Brand new to the forum and new to corvette ownership as of December.
I have been working out many of the bugs on my early build 1969 big block convertible 4 speed. As I imported this car to Canada from the US, I need to get everything operational prior to certification and licensing.
My back up lights do not work and after chasing wiring I realize that the back up switch was not installed (or the wires cut) or something as the wires disappear down below the engine.
Is it possible to replace this switch which I see in the manual without removing the transmission. I can't figure how to access it. I do not have a hoist in my shop.
Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated!

The best non-technical method used to adjust the back up lamp switch is to place the shifter in reverse, attach the switch rod to both the switch and the reverse rod and then move the switch until the back up lamps come on.
Installation of the rod is easy if it is installed in the correct hole. There is only one hole in the shifter lever, but there are multiple holes in the switch and the rod installs in the long lever with the single hole. You’ll notice there is a divot above the hole in the picture below.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Feb 17, 2016 at 11:42 AM.
Brand new to the forum and new to corvette ownership as of December.
I have been working out many of the bugs on my early build 1969 big block convertible 4 speed. As I imported this car to Canada from the US, I need to get everything operational prior to certification and licensing.
My back up lights do not work and after chasing wiring I realize that the back up switch was not installed (or the wires cut) or something as the wires disappear down below the engine.
Is it possible to replace this switch which I see in the manual without removing the transmission. I can't figure how to access it. I do not have a hoist in my shop.
Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated!
Many of these cars have been converted to a Hurst Shifter over the years however and some of them do not have a hole in the reverse lever to insert the back-up light linkage.
Hurst Reverse Lever - with the hole...
Hurst Reverse Lever - without the hole...
This reverse lever is hardened steel and difficult to drill for the back-up light linkage. What I did was weld a small nut to the edge of the lever in an appropriate location for the reverse lever to engage to solve my problem.
Good luck... GUSTO

The best non-technical method used to adjust the back up lamp switch is to place the shifter in reverse, attach the switch rod to both the switch and the reverse rod and then move the switch until the back up lamps come on.
Installation of the rod is easy if it is installed in the correct hole. There is only one hole in the shifter lever, but there are multiple holes in the switch and the rod installs in the long lever with the single hole. You’ll notice there is a divot above the hole in the picture below.

I have just put in an order with you for the back up switch and components. Can you please let me know if I have ordered all the bits correctly for this switch.
It is a 1969 early built (Dec 1968) 427 muncie M21
Thanks
Pete
Here are the parts to the switch and it's mounting bracket.
As shown in the Willcox drawing it mounts using the exiting bolts on the transmission.
There's also a rubber covered clip that mounts to the transmission tunnel fiberglass to help contain the electrical lead…. yours may or may not still be there. (2&3 in the drawing).
Regards,
Alan
The tab with the stamped info on it is from under one of the bolts to the transmission's side cover. Be careful with the 2 tiny 'hair-pin' clips for the rod… if they 'fly' away they can be hard to find in the garage.
Last edited by Alan 71; Feb 26, 2016 at 09:06 AM.
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Here are the parts to the switch and it's mounting bracket.
As shown in the Willcox drawing it mounts using the exiting bolts on the transmission.
There's also a rubber covered clip that mounts to the transmission tunnel fiberglass to help contain the electrical lead…. yours may or may not still be there. (2&3 in the drawing).
Regards,
Alan
The tab with the stamped info on it is from under one of the bolts to the transmission's side cover. Be careful with the 2 tiny 'hair-pin' clips for the rod… if they 'fly' away they can be hard to find in the garage.

Thanks Alan!













