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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: cardinalredC10 on December 16, 2005, 02:20:00 pm

Title: dakota digital dash?
Post by: cardinalredC10 on December 16, 2005, 02:20:00 pm: Hey guys I have a 80 1/2 ton that is getting a new motor. I want to replace the gauges with more accurate ones. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with a Dakota Digital dash as they make one for our trucks. Are they reliable? Or should I just go with a custom fit, Autometer gauged replacement from Covans Classic since they are plug and play?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
Title: Gauges
Post by: gosaspurs on December 16, 2005, 01:53:00 pm: Hey,
I just bought and installed the covan's classic custom fit dash into my 76 K10. It wasn't custom at all though. Essentially they send you a new dash bezel, the gauges (still in boxes), a wiring harness and a wiring diahgram. It isn't all that bad to do if you are handy with wiring, but it isn't nearly as straight forward as they advertise. But they are gorgeous... Just a heads up if you take this route.
Title: Re: dakota digital dash?
Post by: roundedline on December 16, 2005, 03:02:00 pm: Dakota Digitals are sold here for the cheapest you will find. I have one here and well be installing it in one of my trucks. There are a few members here that have gotten one from me also.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Re: dakota digital dash?
Post by: maverick on December 19, 2005, 09:22:00 am: Ive heard that on the dakota gages that if the sun hits them there very hard to read.

Jason
Title: Re: dakota digital dash?
Post by: roundedline on December 19, 2005, 11:38:00 am: On the 73-87's they fit in the same spot behind the bezel. Unless the sun was behind you and you weren't in the truck I don't see how the sun could hit them very well. Certain colors are less visible for example the red.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Re: dakota digital dash?
Post by: shaved80 on December 25, 2005, 06:50:00 am: if the sun is behind you, the tach and speedo are hard to see, but that shouldn't really be that big of a deal, just shade it with your hand every once in a while to check your speed. one thing i really like about the digital gauges, is you can set levels that are too high/low, and when it reaches those, it blinks to let you know. one thing that does suck though is that there's a lot of wiring...and i mean a lot, expect this to take a quite a few hours.

i keep forgetting to do the write up, i'm gonna have to do that sometime this week.
Title: Dakota Digital
Post by: series60 on January 03, 2006, 12:24:00 pm: I have a question regarding the Dakota Digital installation if someone could advise me. My '73 C-20 has had wires cut from the original dash wiring connector and harness. I was needing to know if the Dakota Digital installation uses the original connector or can the new system be connected down line from the original dash connector?

TIA

Bill
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: roundedline on January 03, 2006, 12:44:00 pm: It doesn't use the original connector that plugs into the cluster if that is what you mean.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: series60 on January 04, 2006, 01:48:00 pm: Are the wire connections made to the wiring harness? Is there a picture or diagram of the wiring connections?
************************************************
Bill
http://www.thecyberguy.com/73pickup/29yearproject.html
************************************************
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: roundedline on January 04, 2006, 02:23:00 pm: The factory wiring connects to Dakota's controller, from there their wiring goes to the guages. I have one at home that I will get you pictures of tonight if you want them.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Dakota Digital
Post by: series60 on January 05, 2006, 01:02:00 pm: Thanks Chris,

Yes please. If the images lead me to believe I can install this dash I will be ordering one from you.
Edited by: series60 at: 1/5/06 1:03 pm
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: roundedline on January 05, 2006, 03:10:00 pm: It is pretty straight forward on the installation. You just replace your gauge cluster and their controller and wire it in. Everything else just bolts back in place.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: roundedline on January 05, 2006, 09:28:00 pm: here is the system including the optional sender (on box)

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Dakota Digital
Post by: series60 on January 06, 2006, 09:08:00 am: Chris,

How does the speedo connect? With my old cable drive
speedo I am assuming there must be something in the kit to convert cable speed info to digital info for the guage.

Thanks,

Bill,

www.thecyberguy.com/73pic...oject.html
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: roundedline on January 06, 2006, 11:27:00 am: The digital guages don't use the factory speedometer. They use a VSS that sends a signal to the speedo display, it is included with the kit.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: RSBAD454 on January 14, 2006, 08:23:00 pm: I thought about getting one as well.....among a lot of other items.... how much do you sell them for? I went to their website and they sell for like 600 now.
Toys are my game
Title: Re: Dakota Digital
Post by: roundedline on January 14, 2006, 08:33:00 pm: They raised their prices for the beginning of the year. They are currently $510.95.

www.73-87chevytrucks.com/...ry_Code=7G
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project