TH 350 to 700R4 Neutral Safety Switch

[JKK-71K5]

Hello guys,

I have a 71 K5 that I converted the trans from the 350 to 700R4. I have the stock tilt column and would like to get the neutral safety switch correct. This is for obvious reasons, but I all ready had it start on me in drive and luckily I was in the garage, it only moved 2 feet and bent the bumper...

Anyway, the stock one will not adjust for both the neutral/safety and turn on the rear lights as I would expect... Does anyone know of a later model switch that will bolt in to accomodate for the change from 3 to 4 speeds and the added detent?

I still need to change the indicator lens as well...

 

[Fordum]

Well, I run Fords, so not sure, but it sounds like you might have a problem. The extra position is going to screw things up for sure.

I hate to say it, but unless you could somehow retrofit a 700r4 switch to it, I suspect you may have to swap the column.

One nice thing, GM reused a lot of stuff over the years. So a stock 700r4 switch might just bolt up.

 

[JKK-71K5]

Yes, I thought of something like that, but it is on the column and I would need to find basically any truck that came with a 4 speed is all I would think, not necessarily a 7ooR4.

I'm hoping someone has found such a switch to swap in, knows how to modify the stock one, or how to modify the column as opposed to swaping out a whole column for other.

I suppose I can adjust the neutral safety to work and then go with some aftermarket switch that bolted to the trans to operate the reverse lights. Or, just run the reverse lights off a switch...

Hopefully, there is someone on here that has done this.

 

[Fordum]

Given whats been done here before, I would be surprised if someone hasn't.
Any idea how its mounted on the column, or where?
It might be just a simple matter of changing the switch.

 

[JKK-71K5]

That is exactly what I am hoping for. The switch bolts to the steering column right near the firewall with 2 screws. There is some adjustability side to side, but not enough to account for the trans detents being closer together... I need a switch from a 4 speed column that might fit mine ideally.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Hello guys,

I have a 71 K5 that I converted the trans from the 350 to 700R4. I have the stock tilt column and would like to get the neutral safety switch correct. This is for obvious reasons, but I all ready had it start on me in drive and luckily I was in the garage, it only moved 2 feet and bent the bumper...

Anyway, the stock one will not adjust for both the neutral/safety and turn on the rear lights as I would expect... Does anyone know of a later model switch that will bolt in to accomodate for the change from 3 to 4 speeds and the added detent?

I still need to change the indicator lens as well...

The neutral safety switch is all the same between automatic transmissions (year specific of course) and if yours will start in gear then the switch is simply misadjusted or a bad switch. If you stop to think about it for a minute from P R N D is all the same and it doesn't matter if it's D or OD and the column has plenty of "throw" to accomodate a 4th gear.

 

[JKK-71K5]

The neutral safety switch is all the same between automatic transmissions (year specific of course) and if yours will start in gear then the switch is simply misadjusted or a bad switch. If you stop to think about it for a minute from P R N D is all the same and it doesn't matter if it's D or OD and the column has plenty of "throw" to accomodate a 4th gear.

The switch is brand new along with the column (stock 3 speed). Because of the added detent/gear from the 700R4 there is less space between the detents and an additional detent. The switch will not adjust for both the neutral/safety and the reverse lights. It is one or the other...

3 speed is PRND2L
4 speed is PRND32L

The "throw" is the same, but the spacing is different. For the 4 speed, there are 7 positions, for the 3 speed, there are 6 positions. The throw from end to end is not changing. The switch needs to accommodate the tighter spacing of the 4 speed due to the added gear/detent withing the same "throw", and hence designed for a 4 speed to work with the proper detent spacing.

I'm hoping someone knows of a switch to swap in or something. Otherwise, I've been told the column needs to be modified and swap in a whole different column. I don't really want to do any column mod or swap.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Well I don't know what to tell you as i've personally done this swap 3 times in the past with a 69, 70 and 72 truck and all 3 turned out without any issues.

 

[JKK-71K5]

Well I don't know what to tell you as i've personally done this swap 3 times in the past with a 69, 70 and 72 truck and all 3 turned out without any issues.

So, you've used the stock 3 speed auto column (with stock NS switch) with a 4 speed transmission and have not had any issue with the neutral safety switch working properly with the added detents/gears (no start in D32L or R; start in P or N) and yet you also have the reverse lights turn on when put in R? I can only get it adjusted for the lights or the NS, but not both due to the added gear/detent and different spacing...

 

[4X4HIGH]

So, you've used the stock 3 speed auto column (with stock NS switch) with a 4 speed transmission and have not had any issue with the neutral safety switch working properly with the added detents/gears (no start in D32L or R; start in P or N) and yet you also have the reverse lights turn on when put in R? I can only get it adjusted for the lights or the NS, but not both due to the added gear/detent and different spacing...

That is correct.

 

[kevin400ex]

So, you've used the stock 3 speed auto column (with stock NS switch) with a 4 speed transmission and have not had any issue with the neutral safety switch working properly with the added detents/gears (no start in D32L or R; start in P or N) and yet you also have the reverse lights turn on when put in R? I can only get it adjusted for the lights or the NS, but not both due to the added gear/detent and different spacing...

That is correct.

same here. put a 700r4 in my 79 k5 that had a t350. had no issues with the neutral switch or reverse lights. i had issues pulling all the way down to low 1 but my transfer case drop was the cause of that issue.

 

[Fordum]

You know, as a mildly interested third party, I see a couple of possibilities here.
I have no doubt that both sides are telling the truth. So we need to figure out how that is possible.

Looks like either there is one rare combination of column and transmission that will not hook up right, a little unlikely, but certainly not as strange a thing as I have seen here before.
Or, he has a defective switch. Possible.

Or, and this is the one I am leaning towards, there is a lot of slop somewhere in the system.
Either where the actuator contacts the switch, or somewhere between the lever and the transmission.

Its a 71, 40 years old. If the column is original, there is bound to be wear. If there is a worn part between the switch and the transmission, then the switch would move before the transmission did.

Also, do the two transmissions hook up the exact same linkagewise? There could be an angle problem, or the linkage might be loose on the tranny.

Several ways for both of you to be right........

 

[JKK-71K5]

I've been told by the steering column rebuilt professionals that I need to have a modified column or swap in one that was originally setup for a 4 speed... My "stock" column is new/rebuilt with all new parts and switches.

I don't expect the switch to accommodate the tighter detent spacing due to the added gear and a bit miffed by those who have no such issue. I was also told that later models (beyond 69 -72 genre) are a bit different that what I have and swapping in has some other issues like diameter.

The D (4 speed) is about the same/near (at least 1/2 way there) the N (3 speed)... This should make sense. So adjusting it for this move/change due to the added gear detent puts the R out of range for the back up lights...

Are you sure your reverse lights come on correctly guys?

I would think the switch could be modified or maybe another bolt in... Seems like I'll just have to find another way to turn on the reverse lights or swap in a 4 speed column...