Dakota Digital Cluster in a 65 Dart Wagon
CONTINUED - To connect the cluster to the control box, they use a ribbon cable. It’s about 3 ft long making it easy to install the control box just about anywhere within reason. They do caution not to install the box adjacent to the coil, distributor, etc or other ignition components.
In the package are the water temperature and oil pressure sensors, the electronic adapter for the speedometer cable, various bushings and pre-wired specific 10 ft long cables for each sensor
Once the sensors are installed to the motor and cables routed through the firewall, they are installed to the control box
They don’t provide anything for the fuel sender as the user can calibrate the gauge with the original sending unit or an aftermarket one. You will have to install a ground wire from the sending unit alongside the original sending unit wire. The installation is straight forward as a detailed instruction manual is included. The factory is ground strap connecting the output tube at the sending unit and the body fyel line is not sufficient.
As seen on the control box there are provisions for turn signals, high beam and several other functions. Wiring those is pretty straightforward- tie in with the existing turn signal and high beam wiring. I will be using the Gear (displays P, R, Dr, 2 and 1 in the cluster) for the automatic transmission. This function is built into every cluster but you must purchase the kit that’s secured to the transmission in order to activate it.
With the Dakota Digital system you can add up to 16 auxiliary gauges that correctly read directly in the cluster as it’s all factory built in, even if you don’t use it. I decided to add a transmission temperature gauge. The kit includes the module, the oil/transmission fluid temperature block, sensor, fittings, wiring and the connector from the temperature module to the main control box. This kit can be used for transmission fluid temperature or engine oil temperature. I did not like the fittings they provided (compression fittings), so I sourced others.
I would power up the cluster but as nothing is yet installed, i shall continue this thread after everything is installed. Dakota digital advise not to connect power via a battery charger as the power from the charger is not steady like a battery.
If any questions, leave a comment and I’ll try to answer them
TO BE CONTINUED
CONTINUED - To connect the cluster to the control box, they use a ribbon cable. It’s about 3 ft long making it easy to install the control box just about anywhere within reason. They do caution not to install the box adjacent to the coil, distributor, etc or other ignition components.
In the package are the water temperature and oil pressure sensors, the electronic adapter for the speedometer cable, various bushings and pre-wired specific 10 ft long cables for each sensor
Once the sensors are installed to the motor and cables routed through the firewall, they are installed to the control box
They don’t provide anything for the fuel sender as the user can calibrate the gauge with the original sending unit or an aftermarket one. You will have to install a ground wire from the sending unit alongside the original sending unit wire. The installation is straight forward as a detailed instruction manual is included. The factory is ground strap connecting the output tube at the sending unit and the body fyel line is not sufficient.
As seen on the control box there are provisions for turn signals, high beam and several other functions. Wiring those is pretty straightforward- tie in with the existing turn signal and high beam wiring. I will be using the Gear (displays P, R, Dr, 2 and 1 in the cluster) for the automatic transmission. This function is built into every cluster but you must purchase the kit that’s secured to the transmission in order to activate it.
With the Dakota Digital system you can add up to 16 auxiliary gauges that correctly read directly in the cluster as it’s all factory built in, even if you don’t use it. I decided to add a transmission temperature gauge. The kit includes the module, the oil/transmission fluid temperature block, sensor, fittings, wiring and the connector from the temperature module to the main control box. This kit can be used for transmission fluid temperature or engine oil temperature. I did not like the fittings they provided (compression fittings), so I sourced others.
I would power up the cluster but as nothing is yet installed, i shall continue this thread after everything is installed. Dakota digital advise not to connect power via a battery charger as the power from the charger is not steady like a battery.
If any questions, leave a comment and I’ll try to answer them
TO BE CONTINUED