Can I wire directly from my 1969 camaro original automatic console neutral
Safety switch wiring to the TKO tail shaft neutral switch? Do I need some resistor or an inline fuse? Will the TKO switch take 25 amps?

I can’t seem to get a good answer for Tremec or the vendor I bought the trans from. Everyone seems to talk like I am the first one that wants to hook up the neutral safety switch.

I know an original 4spd car has the safety switch on the clutch pedal but I don’t have those parts.

Please help.

The lights have no where near a 25 amp load. The siwtch in the TKO will handle them just fine.
I just extended them down thru the original auto cable shifter grommet and hooked em up, they work fine.

I am talking the neutral ignition switch not the backup lights. The ignition does have a high amp load i think. What did you do for the neutral safety switch

Neutral Safety Switch Plug (aka Servo Switch Plug)
Part Number:
Price: $ 8.00

Description: The TKO 5sp transmissions are shipped with a Servo Switch pigtail. This custom made plug allows you to remove the original Servo Switch and allow for a cleaner looking installation

There is the above plug that covers this switch on the TKO, mine was plugged but I would bet that the switch for this exists. Contact Classic and ask about it.

I am talking the neutral ignition switch not the backup lights. The ignition does have a high amp load i think. What did you do for the neutral safety switch
OOOPS!! Sorry. You're right, the TKO's neutral safety switch cannot take that load, it will fail.

There was a post once about wiring it up with a bosch type relay, such as is used for fuel infection pumps and electric fans. You'd run the purple wire through the load side of the relay, and use the switch in the trans to operate the coil.

5speedtransmissions.com (Mike Pell??) had a how to, and you did have to step it down. I can't get that site to load. Let me see if I have it archived.

Here's the link. I can't get it to work; can anyone else?

http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/neutral_safey_howto.html

Link worked great. Thanks for the help! I still don't understand why Tremce can't put a switch that will handle the load in the trans. I just hate cutting or adding additional wires to my nice factory wiring harness.

Also how did you figure out that the TKO neutral safety switch won't handle 20 amps? Just wondered.

I called TKO directly and they thought it would be fine becasue it was only an open or close switch with no load issues? They didn't sound very possitive on their advice i will say.

Here is a wiring diagram I made up and am using on my TKO600.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/DCP_1298.JPG

Mike

You can wire this up without hacking up the original harness. These relays are usually numbered the same on the terminals. 85= relay coil negative, 86= relay coil positive, 30= contact common, 87= normally open contact, 87A= normally closed contact. The original neutral switch plug has 1/4" female push-on terminals so 1/4" males will push right in. You'll need some 12 gauge and some 18 gauge wire and some 1/4" male and female crimps. Get insulated females or put shrink tubing over them. Put a male on a piece of 12 gauge and plug it into the terminal on the original neutral switch plug that comes from the ignition switch. On the other end of this same piece of 12 gauge twist a piece of 18 gauge onto the 12 and crimp a female onto both. Push this female onto the 87 terminal on the relay. Run the 18 gauge wire to one of the tranny switch wires. Put a male on another piece of 12 gauge and insert it into the remaining female on the original neutral switch plug. Some tape or shrink tubing over the original plug will prevent shorts. Put a female on the other end of this wire and push it onto the 30 terminal on the relay. Take another piece of 18 gauge, crimp on a female, and push it onto the 86 terminal on the relay. Run the other end of this wire to the remaining tranny switch wire. Take another piece of 18 gauge, crimp on a female, and push it onto the 85 terminal on the relay. Crimp a ring terminal on the other end of this wire and attach it to the sheetmetal with a screw. You can use a nearby screw already attached to the body somewhere. This can all be done near the original harness as long as there is room for the relay. This eliminates the need to run wires to the engine compartment. You can mount the relay under the dash or in the console as long as you can access it if you have to. Wired this way the relay coil is grounded and when you turn the key the relay coil is energized which closes the contacts and completes the circuit to the starter solenoid but only when the tranny is in neutral. Bingo.

I like the idea of the relay and should not be a problem... As for the orginal use of the netural safety switch, you have to remember what these transmission applications were orginally for. Most started in late model fords. It took some hotrod gm guys to make the change.

If you can follow it, 12run's "verbal diagram" will work perfectly. You won't alter the orignal harness (since your car was originally an automatic, the purple wires would be there.) It will fit easily in the console, and the only exra wire you'd need would be for the relay ground, screwed to the console's horshoe bracket or the floor.

As Don said, these transmissions were designed for computerized Fords. The light duty switch simply sent a signal to the computer saying "don't let the car start!"

Thanks for ALL of your help. You guy's are a great group of helpfull people. I am planing on picking up a relay tonight.