datsun 1200 would be lucky to make 88 mph though...

I also like sleveless puffy jackets... MCFLY

Damn Flux Capacitor is at it again!!

how do i know, did the same thing a few times and when put the 56a in, put the sender from the front in there, and what do you know, it works like its designed to, it turns on in any gear except reverse. something i have to get under the low low car to fix soon.... maybe, i dont drive backwards often

Yeah thats what Unfamila said Though he kept it more Simple Don't get me wrong mate you know ya stuff. Was thinking of picking your brain today actually.

In the early 80's Nissan used switches on their geaeboxes to control the advance to the distributor.

In a 4 speed, there was a reverse light switch & a 4th gear detect switch. In any gear except fourth, there was no vacuum to the distributor, so only mechanical advance operated.
The 810/200B & 910/Series 1 Bluebirds had this feature but not the Series 2

Once fourth gear was selected & the car was in cruise mode, the electric vacuum valve was opened & the distributor could then pull in some vacuum advance but, ........ this only worked after the temperature of the coolant had reached a preset minimum as the vacuum signal had to pass through a thermo vacuum valve on the front of the cylinder head.

In five speed models, there was a seperate 'detect' switch for both fourth & fifth gear along with the reverse light switch.
I have no idea if these switches are open circuit when the gear is engaged, or when not engaged & I'm too tired to go get my books & look it up.

Is it possible that the reverse lights are hooked up to one of these.

Then again, you might just have a faulty switch.

As far as I know, reverse gear was located in the extention housing in all of the Nissan/Datsun five speeds in this time frame, so I would expect to find the reverse light switch at the rear of the gearbox.

Ill give it a shot and see how it goes......
In the gear box not the other way
Get your mind out of the gutter

Sounds from what you wrote earlier and what Unfamilia wrote that you have it hooked up in the wrong place.Hook it up to the hole further back and see what happens. that sounds a bit well Anyway wont go there.

Its a 63 a series dogleg box.
I spoke to a mechanic who has worked on datsuns for a long time, who said that the sender may have packed it in as when they let go they work in reverse, so the light will be on in netural and off in reverse????

miks right, its wired into the wrong sort of sender

and mik, stanza 5 speed is the 63a...had both A series and L series bellhousings depending on what car it came in

Would think its more the latter as it only gets engaged with reverse gear due to its location. Could also be wired wrong further along the harness to. Earth connections do we weird things as well.