Door gap dimension for courtesy light switch

[OrrieG]

I do not have my door hung but want to install the courtesy light plunger switches. I searched but could not find a good pic or dimension for the inside gap between the door and cab jamb. Can someone help a brother out with a photo or dimension?? Thanks in advance.

[mr48chev]

Back in the early 60's when I was in high school autoshop I ended up putting door switches for interior lights in several pickups and sometimes had to glue a pad to the door for the switch to hit on. It was do it for one guy in town and his buddies started showing up to have theirs done.

You really want it in a spot where the door comes real close to the jamb and it may be better to wait until the doors are on if eyeballing the door and the jamb don't make i work. The second thing is access to the wires on the switch. We drilled the holes for the switch and then snaked the wires in and then put the switch in.

[Daze57]

are yours the standard GM pin switches?

[OrrieG]

No aftermarket door alarm switches. Metal with about 1/4" exposed cast "nut" that the plunger depresses flush (see pic). So it will stick out that distance, which I can make up for by placing it in a recess if. The shaft is threaded for about 1" so I can move it out quite a bit. Plunger is about 5/8" long.

[mr48chev]

Do you put those in from the back side and then put the nuts on? If so being able to reach the back side is of prime importance.

[OrrieG]

No problem, lots of access from the kick panel hole.

[Russell Ashley]

Here's the ones I used on my truck. I used these because they are very thin and don't require but about 1/8th of an inch clearance between the door and jam. I got mine at NAPA but you can probably get them at many other places. Go to the NAPA website and search for door ajar switch to see a selection.

[_Ogre]

orrieg
i've used the gm style door switches before and usually had them fail after a yr.
so i looked at mounting the same switch elsewhere and ended up with a simple bracket on the upper hinge.
these pictures were taken with a cell phone after i installed the bracket, looking up thru the access panel.

the bracket is 1x7x10ga steel, with 2 bends, 2 holes and mounts with the center bolt of the top hinge.
with the door open



and door closed

[OrrieG]

I knew Orge would come thru! I also like it is one less place for water to get to on the jamp and start rusting. Looks like you tapped the 10 ga so the switch just threads in (good one hand wrench adjustment)??

[Daze57]

the ones russell ashley shows is what i am using also

[sgtusmc]

I used the OEM switches that were already on the 88's wire harness. I do like the way Ogre's are hidden, that's real slick. Since you guy's mentioned rust. I'll add a dab of silly-cone behind mine to keep the water out.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Looks like you tapped the 10 ga so the switch just threads in (good one hand wrench adjustment)??

i threaded the bracket for fine adjustment but never needed it.
rough adjustment is as easy as reaching up with a pair of channel locks and bending the bracket.
glad you like them

[OrrieG]

OK how did I do??? Ignore the 289 in the fab photo....

[Jgowin]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Here's the ones I used on my truck. I used these because they are very thin and don't require but about 1/8th of an inch clearance between the door and jam. I got mine at NAPA but you can probably get them at many other places. Go to the NAPA website and search for door ajar switch to see a selection.

These look a lot like the ones from my 58 bug
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/img/wwpn/113947561B.jpg

[Russell Ashley]

Those hidden switches are neat. When I was wiring my truck I considered using the hinge to operate the switch although my idea for the mounting bracket was different from Ogre's. I just took the easy route and drilled a hole in the door post.

I''m not sure why you are woried about water getting on the switch when it's mounted in the post, as that area is inside the door seals.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

OK how did I do???

if they work, ataboy
looks like someone had a simpson strong tie laying around, not that i've ever used one

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

if they work, ataboy
looks like someone had a simpson strong tie laying around, not that i've ever used one

yes, left over from house projects, good for hidden brackets and galvanized to boot. I sold everything else Simson related except for the flat stuff to discourage the wife from any more construction....