Hi, I am building a 69 Camaro for my son with a 4 speed lock out reverse-question is "is it suppose to be able to shut of only when in reverse or should I be able to turn the motor off while in neutral or 1st tru 4th gear.
Second question,
The instrument and console lights are not working,there is no power at the fuse (checked with key on,off,headlight switch on and off) need a starting point if you have any ideas, thanks guys

 

No One??????

 

I don't remember those old cars having any interlock provisions in the transmission. As far as I know one could atop or start the engine in any gear. The reverse lock out is not really a lockout as in today's cars, it just prevented shifting into reverse accidentally, but you could jam and grind it into reverse at any speed and destroy the transmission (no reverse synchro in those old boxes).

As for the lights, you may want to invest in a repair manual and follow the wiring diagrams.

 

It is a manual reverse lockout, but it's for the ignition, not for shift "oops" prevention. GM calls it a back drive. There is a linkage rod from the shifter that connects to a bell-crank mounted on the inside of the front subframe. A second rod from the crank connects to a lever near the base of the steering column, inside the engine compartment. When the trans is put in reverse, the lever on the column will move and allow the key to be turned all the way back to the off position. When that lever moves, the collar of the steering column, below the steering wheel, rotates with it. It's the same as how the collar on a tree mounted automatic shifter rotates. That whole mechanism also works your reverse lights switch, which is mounted on top of the steering column, closer to the floor.

 

Thanks, I figured that it would need to be in reverse to shut it off.Kind of a pain in the butt but hey,he can live with it. Also got the console problem figured out, thanks guys

 

You could do what I did with mine, my car was a manual converted to automatic. With the bell-crank rod disconnected, wire the arm on the steering column so it's pulled all the way up. Then the key will work in any gear position, which will eliminate that pain. But, you will then need to wire a separate reverse light switch, since the column switch won't be operational.