1965 Back-up switch

[Jack Layton #896]

Well the wires fell off my old back up light switch. Wore out old and decrepit. One wire was black with a pink stripe and the other was black with a green stripe. The number on the back of the switch is 929. Seems folks are trying to sell me a switch with the number 666 (the last three numbers of the part # 1993666) with one pink wire and one green wire.
Now I do not call that a real good match. Is this 666 unit a service replacement with the original 929 being no longer available? Anyone have a suggestion on how to get a switch with the correct wires ?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 Back-up switch

Jack-----

Your 1965, if equipped with 4 speed transmission, was originally manufactured with back-up lamp switch GM #1993666. That part number remained the same right up until the time that the switch was discontinued several years ago. It is possible, though, that the color of the wires changed over the years.

[Gary S.]

Re: 1965 Back-up switch

Jack, as an added note, my buddy and I fixed his backup switch when one of the wires broke off. We very carefully opened up the copper crimped contact and placed a section of the wire in there. Then we soldered the wire to the copper contact and recrimped it. So far so good about two years and a couple of thousand miles later. I also think that careful work will make this almost undetectable.

I have seen this switch available from the various catalog shops including our very own Dr. Rebuild (I think) as well as available at swap meets and Carlisle.
Gary

[Jack Layton #896]

Re: 1965 Back-up switch

Joe , I understand what you are saying about 666. But I have the number 929 stamped on the back of mine. That however does not concern me nearly as much as the wire color coding. Those Pink and Green wires being presently manufactured are not even close to the originals. The wires running from the plug connection at the firewall to the inside are exactly like my originals: black w/green stripe and black with pink stripe. Those new pink and green wires will stick out like a wart on your forehead! This is an A.O. Smith body acr if that has any connection. Somebody needs to do some research on this one.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 Back-up switch

Jack------

OK, I did some more research. I still cannot find where any switch other than the 1993666 back-up lamp switch was ever used on 1965 Corvettes with 4 speed transmissions. 1963 and, possibly, early 1964 Corvettes with 4 speed used switch GM #1993636. Later 1964 through the end of 1967 PRODUCTION used switch GM #1993666. The 63-64 switch was discontinued from SERVICE in March, 1964 and replaced by the 1993666. That part continued to SERVICE all 1963-67 Corvettes with back-up lamps until it was discontinued.

However, and this is where things get interesting, there WAS a back-up lamp switch which was stamped "929". That switch was GM #1997929. As far as I can tell, though, its only application was 2nd design 1963 full size passenger cars with 4 speed. I'll bet that it could be made to work on a Corvette, though.

[Jack Layton #896]

Re: 1965 Back-up switch

Well, that's interesting! Tell me- what color code should the wires be? original June 1965. Black w/pink stipe and black w/green stripe? or all pink and all green ? What about from the connector in front of the firewall and into the interior ? Maybe my entire wiring system for the switch has been changed in the past. There is evidence of the wires down near the transmission having been cut and re -attached. However, this would not cause a color code change all the way up and into the interior. But, I need to know what it should have been circa June 1965. I have located the page in the 1965 AIM but it shows no color coding.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1965 Back-up switch

Ah, somewhere along the line ('66, '67...can't put my finger on it) there was a move to 'standardize' wiring harness' and color coding. Seems the age old system of 'ultra-violet with an invisible trace' became overloaded with the number of permutations evolving via electrical complexity growth.

I know I've seen a conversion table somewhere.... Listed WAS (gauge and color code) versus IS (gauge and color color code--new style).

I don't know if Joe's parts documentation is going to get down to the specifics of what color code/wire gauge were used on individual parts. The in-line connector for the B/U lamp switch was geometrically keyed (can't put it together wrong) so, there'd be little need to conserve old vs. new style color code conventions.

[Eric H.]

Markings and Gauge

Technical Advisors -

I am interested in knowing the original color markings and gauge of the wires connecting the 4 speed backup switch to the harness connector.

I have redone the 65 wiring diagram (in color)on AutoCAD, but am lacking this information and also the same details on the retractable antenna. I can't seen to find these wires detailed in any of the literature that I have. My car has a repo backup switch and retractable antenna, so it's of no help.

Black w/Pink (Purple?)?? I don't recall any pink designations in the service manual.

Black w/Green (DGN - Dark Green?)

Ric

[Donald O.]

Re: Markings and Gauge

Ric,

I too have drawn my 1967 wiring diagram in the correct colors in AutoCad R14. I took the schematic from the 1967 Chassis Service Manual. It shows the two wires to both be 18 gauge, with one being black with pink (18 B/P)and the other to be black with light green (18 B/LG).

Contact me if you would like to exchange *.dwg files.

Don

[Ryan Clark]

Re: Markings and Gauge - acad file

Would either of you consider sharing your wiring *.dwg file.

I would greatly appreciate having an ACAD copy of my 65 wiring diagram.

Ryan Clark #35188

Great Idea, wish I'd thought of doing that.


My Corvette Page

[Donald O.]

Re: Markings and Gauge - acad file

I will gladly share it for free with any member who has AutoCad 14, or higher, so they can view it. Of course donations and tips are encouraged and always appreciated. If the member doesn't have ACAD, then they would have to pay for the postage and printing....I can't lose money on this....

Don

[Ryan Clark]

Re: Markings and Gauge - acad file

I am currently running R14. Is the file size small enough to be emailed?

Ryan Clark
#35188

[Donald O.]

You have mail *NM*

[Eric H.]

218K & Headed Your Way *NM*

[John H.]

Re: Markings and Gauge

My '65 diagram shows that the wires from inside the car to the back-up light harness connector on the engine compartment side of the firewall are 18-ga. light green (feed to the backup lamps, through the body harness connectors), and 18-ga. black/pink (from I.P. harness, supplying 12 volts). Don't know if this convention carries on the pigtail from the switch, but it should (switch and pigtail aren't shown on the diagram).