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My short driveshaft and J-type small diameter flange are enroute. Soon I can get OD in my 122 wagon...
Given the recent note that articles at VClassics might be out of date, I thought I'd ask about using the high-low beam switch to control the OD. This was mentioned in an article about sticking an OD in a PV.
My own 122 was already converted from a floor switch to the stalk high/low beam toggle. I also know that aside from the dashboard and a single toggle, many OD-equipped amazons have a switch on the right side of the column that activates the OD. IPD sells these, but they ar quite pricey. I don't have one of those "anywhere" switches but I do have a spare turn signal switch.
So.. Has anyone succesfully mounted a second turn switch on the right side to control the OD? Or.. am I better off getting a generic toggle and putting yet anoterh hole in my dashboard?
If this has been done, are there any handy uses for the otehr functions of a spare turn-signal stalk (please keep in mind that I'm quite ignorant of electrical pitfalls...)
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posted by
someone claiming to be Red Sled
on
Wed Sep 6 05:50 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Well, since you're no longer using the dimmer switch on the floor, why not use it to control the O.D.? "It's so crazy it just might work!" Stealthy, too.
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It's a really, really good idea to use the clutch when shifting in and out of OD...
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posted by
someone claiming to be Red Sled
on
Thu Sep 7 09:56 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Right. Like I'm the only person with 3 feet?
Never mind.
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that is a tad crazy... However, the signal dimmer conversion was done many years before I became this car's 2nd owner and I've no idea where I could find a new floor dimmer that I could use to trigger the OD.
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After many years of driving trucks with a 2-speed axles, and now owning a 122 with overdrive, I intend to install the same type switch on the 122 shifter as was on the trucks. I know it seems a bit tacky, but the switch is where it is most convenient. The parts are reasonably priced, so if I don't like the truck effect, I will go to plan "B". Currently, I have a rocker switch mounted near the ignition.
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There's nothing to mount a turn signal switch to on the right side of the column. The originals attach with a single nut to the plastic shroud instead of to a bracket on the column, just like a regular toggle switch.
I've installed the switch IPD sells (mounts the same way), and I'm not impressed with its sturdiness. I had it fall apart several times trying to make it fit, which is just barely possible. The one I did does seem to be working fine after a year, though.
Using the pullback feature on the turn signal switch works great, but you've already got the headlight dimmer wired to that.
What I did on our own 122 is use an illuminated rocker in a bracket below the dash, held on with the same screws that anchor the bottom of the heater controls. No new holes needed, indicator light is built in, and to me it falls readily to hand.
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"Using the pullback feature on the turn signal switch works great, but you've already got the headlight dimmer wired to that."
I've done this on two 122 sedans and a wagon. I like it a lot. Allows you to shift/downshift, steer and switch in out of OD at the same time. I did toggle under dash as Phil mentioned on 444 but didn't like ergonomics of moving hand from shift lever to toggle to shift lever...
With turn signal setup, it's right there near the steering wheel where your hand always is.
Factory OD toggle on right is just another thing in the way, and again, your shift hand is moving from shift lever to OD toggle.
Of course, I'm currently in need of a foot dimmer switch, as mine has self destructed.
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Jack,
This cat can be skinned many ways. I much prefer the momentary contact switch plus relay method to the toggle because it automatically disconnects the OD when you shift out of forth. With the long shifter stick, putting a switch on the shifter gets very complicated. With a remote shifter it is a little less so, but still pretty tricky. The ipd switch mounted on the turnsignal switch housing is a possibility I haven't tried because I didn't trust its sturdiness. Your turnsignal switch already incorporating the headlight dimmer, I would say that mounting a momentary contact switch and a light on the dash would probably be the simplest approach. If you don't want to make more holes in the dash, you could mount them on a bracket below the dash in the vicinity of the shifter. Anyway, substitute the numbers 689044, 870849, and 695288 for the one in the BB address on the top of this page and you'll find more useful info on this subject.
Bob S.
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What about an early 1800 overdrive switch? Or even a late one which is not momentary? These seem a bit cheaper than the 122 versions (and I have a few spares, too!).
Jim
--
'66 220 Wagon, '67 4-door 122, '71 1800E, '82 242 GLT, '83 244T, '89 244 DL, cars trucks and Volvos!
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My overdrive donor is a 1971 P1800E. The overdrive switch is some sort of stalk-thing on the right side of the column. I'm not sure that it could be installed onto the 122's steering column.
What does the earlier 1800 switch look like?
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"My overdrive donor is a 1971 P1800E. The overdrive switch is some sort of stalk-thing on the right side of the column. I'm not sure that it could be installed onto the 122's steering column."
It would probably be easier than adding a turn signal switch! I think it just screws into a bracket under the cover, you could probably fab up some sheet metal to mount it and then just cut an oval hole in the cover?
Another option is to take out the cigarette lighter (if you don't smoke) and install a matching switch there. that's what I did with my PV. Of course, the bezel says 'fan' and there are a few extra clicks (in all the way is off, all the other outward clicks are on) but it works just fine. I didn't use a relay, just wired fused 12V+ to the switch, from there to the 4th gear switch on the top of the trans, then to the OD solenoid. I used slightly heavier gauge wiring, but I don't think it pulls a bunch of current. Of course, using something other than a self-canceling relay like a toggle switch or a headlight relay can and does lead to the occasional 3rd-to-5th shift.
--
I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.
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That type of OD switch should mount right up, but not to sheet metal. On the Amazon, there's a blind hole in the plastic cowl behind the wheel -- just drill that out, and the rest will be obvious.
Also, that switch does not require a relay. One side gets 12V from the ignition circuit, and the other side connects to the 4th gear switch on the tranny and the indicator light (the other side of the light has to be grounded, of course).
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Sure it can. Once you get the plastic cowl off (pull the wheel, and remove the screws holding the cowl to the wheel tube flange - maybe loosen the turnsignal indicator so you can maneuver the cowl over both the wheel shaft and the indicator stalk)) you'll see a cast boss on the inside on the cowl indicating where to to drill the hole for the OD stalk.
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In looking over the 1971's steering wheel... um how does it come off?
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The center padding just pulls backward, it clips in place. Then you can see the nut holding the wheel to the steering shaft. With the nut off, yank like crazy on it, quite often they have grown very attached.
--
I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.
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Just now I'm dealing with an OD switch upgrade. Got a 240 OD relay off ebay, which will allow me to utilize a "momentary switch" (aka push button or turn signal). Like yours my H/L are on the turn signal and I don't like the toggle option too much so I'm going with a push button on the shifter. I wound up having to epoxy a nylon bushing into the knob and then cut threads into that so the knob would fit onto the 140 shifter (which came with the B20).
I ruined the 240 knob tring to do that so I pressed into service a wooden knob, drilled it out and fitted it with the 240 shifter knob button and did cosmetic work with body filler and paint after reinforcing the botton in the knob with epoxy. A lot of work for an OD switch, but I really want the switch off the dash and on the shifter knob.
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Hi there, although I have no direct expereince of this conversion, and others will no doubt have more, I have heard that the standard turn signal switch is not suitable for this because of reliability/strength issues. I certainly know that every Amazon I have owned has had issues with the switch (not cancelling etc). I would stick around until a decent overdrive switch comes around.
Tom
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