1972 Duster factory electronic ignition harness into a 1971 Duster 340 (rallye dash)?

[WymanV]

Hey all,

The quick question is will my 1972 Duster 340 engine harness wi/electronic ignition essentially "plug & play" fit in a 1971 Duster 340 with rallye dash or do I have some rewiring to do to make it work?

The longer backstory goes like this: The car in question is a 1972 Duster 340/4 speed. I've replaced the dashboard with one from a 1968 Barracuda (cheap and available) which has been brought up to 1971 specs (other than the extra "cigar" lighter, which I can certainly use as another charging port, etc.) and the dash harness I scored is from a 1971 Duster 340 with rallye dash and judging by the presence of the dashboard mounted reverse light in the harness, a 4 speed car as well. So the question is can I just plug that engine harness into the rallye cluster harness or do I have to make changes to make it work? Now's the time to do it if I have to as I'm up to my ears in modifying and reconditioning the harnesses to meet my needs and the engine's out.

Thanks

Ken

 

[halifaxhops]

I would look in both FSM's and compare them first. Mymopar has them if needed.

 

[Super-Cuda]

Do you have a pic of the back of the instrument cluster you want to use? Different circuit boards depending on model.

The Dash Bezel in your interior pic looks like a 70 but hard to be sure because of the radio cutout.

Also, 67-69 Rallye dash wiring had a bezel mounted emergency flasher switch

The dash frame in the pic is not a 68 Barracuda, Its a 67 , 69 or 70-71 . The cluster may be a 68 barracuda, if so, the 5 volt voltage limiter is in the fuel gauge and is not mounted to the circuit board.

The 68 would have had holes in the bottom of the metal frame top mount the lower dash pad. (one year only)

I'm thinking if the cluster has the correct circuit boards, you are using the factory Mopar electronic ignition, and the wiring is in place for the emergency flashers it should work. Make sure about the voltage limiter though.

 

[67Dart273]

The above. I think the big thing is translating the wiring your new harness has AT THE CLUSTER connector to the Ralley dash. The connector(s) may not even be the same.

the manuals, generally, do not detail the cluster inner workings. But if you can post clear shots of the clusters we/ you can SEE the traces. The way to do that is to not try and post just one shot. Get overlapping closeups an and post one cluster in two shots. Also need to reference the rear of the cluster to function, so post a shot of the front as well.

 

[WymanV]

Off to work in a few minutes so no time to take & post pics but here's the process regarding the dashboard. It is indeed from a '68 Barracuda, brought up to 1971 specs:

1972 Duster, 340/4, black on black (the endgame)

Had a break this week from making guitars so I got some progress going on here. Front clip & rallye dash frame, blasted: Other than some surface spotting on the outside, those Valiant parts have no rust issues whatsoever :thumbsup: Nice & clean. Can't say the same for the dash frame...

www.forabodiesonly.com

The circuit board has been replaced with new ones from Charger Specialties.

 

[WymanV]

Bumping because someone may have stumbled on this question during a google search and now I have an answer to share. Yes. You can pull the engine compartment harness and all the electronic ignition related items from a '72 Duster and "plug & play" it into a 1971 Duster harness with rallye dash.

The details: The motor is broke in and installed along with the rest of the drivetrain. I still need radiator/heater hoses, fan and exhaust to fire it up but the electrical is done and it's turning over. Just to see I just pulled the #1 plug, grounded it to the motor and turned it over and I have spark. Jury's still out on the gauges but those connections are the same so I have no reason to believe there will be issues there.

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter...