Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Just assembled the parts....switch and backup light.
1. How is the wire from switch to the light routed? Through the trunk?
2. My backup light mounts in the apron. Any measurements for placement.
3. Any pics on placement of backup light switch?

Thanks!

Without a factory template which to the best of my knowledge none has been available or at least posted, it is hard to say the exact dimensions Packard suggested. A couple of photos of 47s would appear to show it was centered between the Left vertical bumper extension and the license plate and the mounting post maybe a half to an inch in front of the bumper.

The switch is held by a bracket at the base of the steering column. If you have the R9 OD safety switch it uses the two terminals distant from the plunger and the OD power goes thru the two terminals close to the plunger. If you do not have the safety switch then the reverse light uses the same bracket but is a two terminal switch. The schematic shows it getting power from the aux fuse on headlight switch but I think a better place would be off the fused terminal at the end of the instrument light switch where the tail lights get power. That way the car could be left in reverse when parked plus the light would only work when the other lights are on.

There is no easy way to get a wire thru the trunk because all direct access is in the space above the headliner where the body loom runs. Because of the light location it would still have to go thru a hole again. I ran my wire under the car protected in a length of asphalt fabric wire loom and strapped to the brake tube as far as the hose connect in front of the rear axle. From there it went up over a couple of cross braces in a space near the side of gas tank. It hugs the trunk floor for a couple of feet and can then be directed to the area you mount the light. I had my AC tubing to strap to over the axle but if you go that route you might want to add a clamp into the floor under the rear seat area or in the very front of the trunk in that raised shelf area to keep the wire up and out away from any possible damage.

Here are a couple of photos of mine. The wire is run but the light hasn't been installed yet.

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Thanks Howard,
Asphalt wire look is a godsend. Thank you.
Diamondbacks going on this week!

if the steering collumn is the same as on my 49 and you don?t have the bracket, I just made this bracket and still kept the paper pattern. I can post the dimensons

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Will this help

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Thanks for posting the instructions. Correct me if I am wrong but those appear to be for the 48-50 models. I believe the 41-47 Clipper had just a single lamp with a support which mounted vertically on the gravel shield forward of the bumper rather than horizontally off the trunk panel. If I am incorrect and they did use the type which mounts to the trunk panel that would make finding Clipper reverse lights a lot easier as there seem to be more of those shown in the illustration hitting ebay.

The switch bracket looks like it would work and appears easier to make than the earlier type which has two sharp 90 degree bends, one of which is at an angle. Here is an incomplete illustration of the earlier bracket that is on my 47. Have never seen any documentation on the actual reverse light installation specific to the Clippers.

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Just my two cents, one 47 Packard had one mounted on the rear pan, my other 47 had it mounted on the back just below the trunk.
Wes

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I suspect if a customer came into the dealership in 1955 and wanted a backup light installed on his 47 they could have installed the 51-54 variety because they probably would have had them on the shelf. Not surprising if a 48-50 version might be found on a 47 either. I doubt if the average customer would have known or maybe cared if there might be subtle differences between years or he might think the latest was the greatest.

Here is what is shown in the 46-7 accessory booklet. It clearly shows the mount going thru the gravel shield but without the installation sheet or template, still no idea of the factory recommended location.

I would think the one on Wes's black car was too close to the tail light and the one on the maroon car would be the more correct location for both styles. In that instance the dimension of 10" from center line as given on that install sheet would seem to be appropriate.

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If we're discussing originality here, in the early 50's the 47 style backup light was only about 5 years old and surely available from Packard. If the dealer had a Western Auto backup light on the shelf and installed it that would not make it original. If we supplied a 37 backup for a customers 54 Caribbean because that's what we had on the shelf, the same.

We all know what's correct, anything else is wrong but if you're content with wrong that's OK.

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I have no idea how often this occurred but... I think you are correct.

Here's my '50 (renumbered '49) with the 51-54 style backup lights.

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