240 wiring harness - interchangability?

[Si|v3r72]

I don't suppose it's possible that a '71 dash wiring harness will go right into a '72 dash? Are the '71's and '72's interchangable? Mine is so bad that I think changing out the entire harness will be easier than fixing all the problems.

[2ManyZs]

Doubt it... too many small connectors are different between the two.

Hmm, I've got a 72 for parts but as yet I don't know what it looks like behind the dash. Or you could try these guys and see if the might have one for a 72...

http://www.zstopnshop.com/Parts_Bin.html

[EScanlon]

Yes. But.................

There are some differences between the Early 71 and the Late 72. The early 71's were actually very Late 70 style vehicles (at least as far as the U.S. is concerned), and the 72's started using various items that could be considered 73.

Additionally there is the difference between the Manual and the Automatic wiring harnesses.

However, if you are talking between Mid to Late 71 and Early to Mid 72 you should be fine as long as you take the transmission portion into mind AND you check to make sure you have compatible connectors as there were some changes in the style of connectors used amongst the years.

Although this sounds like a lot of gibberish, it isn't. I have two Z's, one's a late 72 (parts car) and my good car is one produced in 9/71. Both are Automatic, yet there are some strong differences.

The differences I am aware of:

71 & 72 cars did NOT have the Seat Belt Warning Interlock. Late 72's and 73 did. Look at the forward section of the center console. If it does NOT have the ashtray right below the radio and in front of the shifter, it more than likely had the choke warning light and the seat belt light there. The harness has to have those connections in it and the early 71's did NOT have those functions in there.

Automatic cars had not only the Starter Interlock mechanism in the Engine wiring harness, but also had the Kickdown Switch in the Dash harness.

The Rear Wiring Harness was pretty much the same between the years, even with the Seat Belt Warning Interlock. The ONLY difference I am aware of is that later models had different connectors.

That's it off the top of my head.

Hope this helps.

Enrique Scanlon

[Si|v3r72]

Ok thanks guys. I think I'll steer clear of the off year stuff.