1972 Cj5 Year Of The Intermediate Of Intermediates

That's a '73-75 panel. The fan switch and defrost are right for 1973. Breakage of the plastic bracket seems universal, especially around the holes for the controls. Plastic gets brittle as it ages.

 

Looking at it up close for the first time, I notice that the chrome face (it wraps up along the top bolt holes) was probably added later. The bolt holes are definitely hand drilled. The edges are welded nicely, but obviously done by hand. The plastic behind it it really rough. No way to even attach the switch or knobs if the chrome plate wasn't there. Lot's of plastic missing. Looks like, with the chrome face, it'll clean up nicely though.

 

This is what mine looks like, and mostly what they looked like from the factory. I thought it was obvious that the chrome front was applied to repair the panel.



My defrost and temperature cables have been repaired with a washer to repair the broken plastic around the hole. I replaced the cable housings using a steel choke cable and the original cores. This required heating and straightening the ends and making new ends at the heater.

 

My 1972 has the medal bracket and chrome knobs as Tim posted above. The original owners manual show what Tim’s picture shows as well. I wonder if the control knobs was a dealer idea. Given earls engine was assembled in early aug 71 20 days before my engine. His vehicle was clearly completed in august.

 

That looks like 1973,74 type wonder why it was swapped out

 

After nearly 50 years, odd things happen....

 

Indeed.

 

Since this thread got into heater controls a bit, what do you think of this setup? Stock but mounted on a non stock bracket of some sort?





I would call this rig a fairly unmolested 72, mainly because it sat idle for about 30 years.
For informational purposes...

 

Here's my heater controls. 1975 CJ6



Data Sticker.

 

I suspect that's factory, but I can't prove it. Somebody with the factory parts book that covers '72 might be able to say definitively.

 

As usual, you are correct. I dug up my reference materials and found a parts manual on CD, which my laptop can't use. Then I looked in the owners manual and found the world's worst photo, but it does show the spacer in there. Thanks Timgr.



Getting back to Mrtii's original post...
I am hoping to drag the 72 up to the front of the shop soon (I don't think you got to see much of it when you were here). If I get that done I can try to check the gauge wiring for you. I also found the TSM if you need some shots of the wiring diagram.

 

I don't know if the earlier pics and Haynes Manual diagram answered your initial question, Mrtii. Here is a pic from the 1972 TSM of the entire dash wiring.

 

Reading back, I see you were looking for amps and oil pressure. As you stated, not in the TSM as far as I can tell. If I see it elsewhere in the manual, I'll add it.

 

Even more oddities with my '72. It seems it's not just the plastic hanging heater controls that are from a later model. The entire dash (and maybe windshield) are from 73-75.

The parking brake release hangs under the dash, the wiper motor wires run through the bottom of the windshield behind the dash -- no visible wires. The amp gauge and oil pressure gauge were under and to either side of the speedometer. Again, after 50 years, odd things happen.

This makes me wonder if the body is original to 1972. Does anyone know where to look for VIN or other markings on the tub? Any differences in tub from 72-75?

As the title of this thread says, the year of the intermediate of intermediates.

 

That's weird. I looked too and don't see anything other than the drawing that shows the two gauges. Not much help.

 

There are no markings on the tub other than the sticker on the dash, AFAIK. The sequential part of the serial number is stamped into the top of the frame near the right front shock mount. The engine build date should match the chassis date rather closely. The axles also have a date somewhere, though I don't know offhand where to find or how to read. You should be able to research that online.

Possible there was a service bulletin that covered the changes to Renegade wiring. As I recall, only the Renegade was available with the oil and amp gauges in 1972. These went to the regular option list in 1973.

 

Frame VIN is definitely 1972 and matches engine build date. I don't have any stickers or plates on the body. It's been repainted a few times.

 

If it's a late 72 it would not surprise me it has 73 features. The only difference with a 72-75 tub that I know of is the JEEP stamping. A 72 would have the rare block lettering. I have yet been able to pinpoint exactly when that changed.

 

my 1972 has some what would appear to be odd features, as it appears to have been a renegade. Original paint color is mind green, with the oil and amp gauge holes in the dash. Mine has the tail gate, which I have concluded was a option for 1972, though it may have been rare. Mine appears to have a original off set rear end with a date code of march 1971, track lock and 4.88 gears. Question, was it possible that a customer could have ordered this set up. This I doubt will be solved. The TSM provided instructions on how to read the code on the axle's, which I have a original one. To me it is odd that a factory repair manual does not have a schematic for trouble shooting electrical issues for this model year. I conclude that they ran out of time to publish it for the upcoming year, given all the changes from 71 to 72 . Thank you for all the help and insight above.

 

My engine code is H for 304 2v - My production date is Sept 1971. My rear D44 is not offset. My windshield wiper motor located outside of windshield on lower driver side also has the wiring coming through the windshield frame. I don't know how to tell if it is a Renegade as it had been painted from yellow(factory) to a plum color. It does have the Amp Meter and Oil Pressure(Mechanical) mounted on opposite sides of steering column. My heater controls are mounted in a hanging metal bracket, no plastic on it. Anybody tell me how to tell if it is a Renegade?