Classic/Antique Car Repair: 63 mercury comet neutral switch, mercury comet, neutral safety switch

Question
i was wonder if i could get a how to on replacing the neutral switch in my 1963 mercury comet

Answer
Unfortunately, you didn't tell me which engine or transmission your car has, so I can't give you any specific instructions, as they were all different.  I also need to know if your car is a convertible or not, and if it has column shift or floor console shift.  If your car has the most common setup, read on, I may be able to help you anyway:

In general, the way to approach this is to find the switch first - I'm not kidding!  It might be on the shift linkage, on the steering column, or on the side of the transmission case (the most likely place).  

Look for wires - start on the driver's side of the transmission - if you see something with wires going to it, that's very likely the neutral safety switch. If it is there, just unbolt it and take it off.  To reinstall it, you need to have a #43 drill to push through the 3 holes in the side of it to line up the contacts so it will only allow start in neutral or park.  Make sure the drill rod goes in all the way - at least 31/64 inch, so that it catches all 3 things that need to be lined up.

Put the drill rod through the holes before you tighten the mounting bolts, and make sure the car is in neutral before you do this, then tighten the bolts.

Then check to make sure it will start in neutral and park only, and not in any other gear.  If this is OK, you're done. If it won't start in Park or Neutral, try making the position adjustment again - just keep fiddling with it -sooner or later you'll get it right.

Sorry I can't be more specific - but I think this will get you going.

Dick