Dakota Digital Cluster in a 65 Dart Wagon

[65 Dartman]

I made a comment on @Coyote Jack thread (Intellitronics instrument cluster) about hoping my Dakota Digital would go OK. @Car Nut asked for more info on mine since he’s also going with a Dakota Digital system. Rather than hi-jack CJ’s thread, i told Car Nut i would start a thread on my Dakota Digital setup.

So when I got my 65 Dart wagon I wanted a full set of gauges which the stock 65 Dart cluster does not have. I started looking at my options and decided to convert my dash to a 66 Barracuda since I had a complete dash.

I checked with Dakota Digital as i liked their gauges. In talking with them the only stuff they offered for Mopars was for 68-70 B Bodies and 70-74 E’s. He said their Custom Shop could replace everything in my 66 Barracuda cluster with their digital gauges.

MORE TO FOLLOW!

 

[65 Dartman]

CONTINUED- I was hoping they could install their analog style gauges but as I learned, they could only replace with their digital series. This was 5 or 6 years ago; however, I see now they now can now do their analog style gauges in a custom application.

Then, as now, they require your OEM gauge cluster bezel to be finished

So, i sent my bezel off to be re-chromed and painted. After I got it back, i sent the assembled original cluster to Dakota Digital’s custom shop. In due time I received it back along with the OEM lenses and gauges as they installed their lenses

What the custom shop did was cut the back of the cluster as needed and installed several individual modules to make one assembly

 

[65 Dartman]

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

 

[Seandavid55]

It was hard to get information from them in regards to what I'll have in the end. This is the information I was looking for, thanks for that.

How was your turn around time? I want to say they quoted me 4-8 months for mine.

 

[65 Dartman]

It was hard to get information from them in regards to what I'll have in the end. This is the information I was looking for, thanks for that.

.
Their website has a whole lot more information than when I bought my custom unit. IIRC there are user manuals on lot of the individual parts

How was your turn around time? I want to say they quoted me 4-8 months for mine.

IIRC from the time I mailed it to I had it back was about 8 weeks. I don’t think they were doing much custom at the time. I let them know it was on the way with a tracking number (insured of course) and asked if they could let ne know when it was shipped back to me, which they did.

With all the options they have now, i don’t doubt their turn time is 4 to 8 months

 

[Sublime one]

I run Dakota Digital in both my drag car (Cuda) and also my Demon that I just did a Gen 3 Hemi swap in. I cannot say enough good things about their products and more importantly their printed directions. And if you have trouble they have great tech support. The Cuda gets seriously thrashed and breaks stuff regular but never a single issue with the dash!

 

[Seandavid55]

Sounded like the lead time was more an issue with their supply of certain components. Like a lot of things these days. At this point I'm kind of giving up on having it back together to drive this summer. But, you never know.

I'm going to get their interface to the holley computer. All my sensors will go to the computer then come back to Dakotas interface, then to the gauges. Figured this saved having redundant sensors and gives the ability to data log everything.

Lots to learn for me. I'm excited to see your panel in the car.

 

[Sublime one]

The complexities of integrating the modern Hemi to the Dakota dash utilizing a Holley fuel delivery system overwhelmed me. I was not strong enough in the digital technology arena to sort it out. The interface components made it much simpler for me.

 

[Car Nut]

Very good explanation, thanks for sharing @65 Dartman

Following.

 

[Seandavid55]

Just got the call from Dakota Digital, my gauges are done. Way earlier than they said they would be. Very exciting. Maybe this thing will be on the road before winter.

 

[65 Dartman]

When you get them back, post some pictures

 

[Car Nut]

Just got the call from Dakota Digital, my gauges are done. Way earlier than they said they would be. Very exciting. Maybe this thing will be on the road before winter.

How long has it taken?

 

[Seandavid55]

How long has it taken?

2 months on the dot.

 

[Car Nut]

2 months on the dot.

Not very long at all.

 

[Sublime one]

It is bittersweet following this thread as I had no idea they even offered a refurbishment of your stock gauges. I would have so went that way had I known. I just think your cluster looks over the top cool. I am certainly going to do it your way on my next one. Of course wife muttered something about a dead body last time I mentioned doing one more.

 

[Seandavid55]

Arrived today. Wonder how many extra pounds of wiring my car is going to end up with.

Everything was packaged well. Though, I'd think it best to not have the invoice with the price front and center on the shipping label.

Gauges probably look familiar. There is a thread in here somewhere with a picture of the same thing and it was guessed that they were Dakota Digital. Seems to be correct. Will be some time yet before I'm ready to install it.

This is the only part that I'm questioning a bit. This curve did not exist when I sent it in. Maybe a little heat gun can straighten it out??

 

[65 Dartman]

Very nice! They didn’t offer the analog-style gauges when I inquired about doing custom gauges in a stock bezel or I would have likely gone in that direction.