I'm beginning to reassemble my 240Z ground-up restoration. I have two dashes, and both have the amount of dead-end wires, taped-together fixtures, splices, etc. you might expect on a 40 year old car. With visions of spending hours at a time on my back under the dash once the car looks otherewise ready to run, trying to figure why things don't work, I am weighing the benefits of buying a whole new harness. I've found two suppliers: www.keepitcleanwiring.com, and www.new-datsun-parts.com/240Z

I'd be very interested in hearing the thoughts of others who have been where I am right now, and also learning of experiences with the two suppliers mentione above.

Many thanks.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like keepitclean just does generic harnesses that would nee to be adapted for Z use. That seems to me to be more work than testing and repairing the ones you already have.

The ones at new-datsun-parts are horribly expensive, and they don't have all the necessary parts for a '71. In particular, they have no dash harnesses for a '71 at all, either early or late.

What is the build date of the car you are working on? Are you thinking of just the dash harness? Or all three main pieces? Automatic or 4 speed?

If you are handy with a soldering iron, then get ahold of a wiring diagram for your year and repair the harness. Banzai Motorworks has the bullet style connectors and 6-wire connectors (http://www.zzxdatsun.com/catWiring.php). There have been previous posts about other sources for the connectors, search the site and you should stumble across them.

Arne, Ken,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It sounds like the idea of a new harness is not a good one.

As for the six-prong connectors, yeah, that might be a good place to do some updating.

Your question is build date. Actually, I have bits and pieces of two cars; one 12/70, and the other 4/71. Under-dash looks the same so far, but I haven't really got into them yet. Both are four-speeds. The dash harness is what I am really concerned about - the others appear relatively simply and visible.

There are differences in wiring between 12/70 and 4/71. But you should be able to use either in your car, as long as all three main harness sections (body, engine compartment, dash) are from the same build date. I'd recommend against trying to mix and match.

I am doing a jan 71 now and will try to blueprint the wiring but i am now pressed for time and may not do as much as I would like. I'll post data next week.

Ahh, but which Jan. '71 are you doing? Some are Series 1 (same as 9/70 through 12/70), others are Series 2 (1/71 through 8/71).

Jan 9 71 is the on the dash and 01/71 is on the door plate and 01-71 is fuel pump date so it is the cusp.

Is the rear defroster switch illuminated?