Dakota Digital Instrument Install

[85 S10 V8]

Just finished installing my Dakota Digital instruments. The wiring diagrams in my factory service manual were less than stellar, but I was able to follow the circuit traces on the rear side of the old instrument bucket. I had to modify the original intrument bucket to fit the new panel in, but it fits nice. The wiring was involved in order to keep the original indicators such as the brake warning light, integrated tun signals, high beam indicator, and check engine light.

I was concerned about glare, but it performs quite nicely even with the sun to my back.

It reports 0-60 time, 1/4 mile time, and high RPM just to name a few features I've played with so far. I also now have a gear indicator since my old one quite working long ago. But most importantly, I have a tach now!

[Mikz86TA]

Nice. I dig the blue!!

[Zygoat]

very nice! im assuming you did the brushed alum. panels. looks really good!

[85 S10 V8]

The blue is what turned me on to Dakota Digital. Compliments the Pioneer blue stereo.

Yeah, did the brushed billet dash panels when I installed the new instruments.

[spideyjected]

That looks nice!

[00S104.3]

Very nice. The last time I went to the junkyard there was a 1st gen blazer there with a factory digital gauge cluster. I was so tempted to grab it but I don't know how much work is involved in swapping it into my 89 blazer with factory analog gauges.

[Mikz86TA]

You need the harness that it plugs into. I know that much =)

[00S104.3]

You need the harness that it plugs into. I know that much =)


That about all I know too.

[Tink]

Those look super nice. Love how they match the stereo.



Very nice. The last time I went to the junkyard there was a 1st gen blazer there with a factory digital gauge cluster. I was so tempted to grab it but I don't know how much work is involved in swapping it into my 89 blazer with factory analog gauges.

It is actually pretty easy... I've swapped them in my Blazers I had before... put the digital from the 4wd into the 2wd and vise versa....

http://www.s10planet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5124

http://mtx.mine.nu/

[Bozup]

thats f'n sweet!! I wish I had a 1st gen just to do that

[1-1-SIX]

looks awesome...:thumbsupsmiley:

[Jongo88]

I like that. That looks so cool. I have the factory one in my Blazer and it's cool too.

[stealthsuper]

Very nice Ride, Im diggin the whole truck

[keldoran23]

Those look sweet! Too bad most of the good mods like this are Gen 1 mods.

[mischievous]

Beautiful! So, you started with analog guages right? I'm planning dakota gauges too, I'm going from the stock digital though. Not really sure how I'm going to trace the wiring yet.



Those look sweet! Too bad most of the good mods like this are Gen 1 mods.

That's the good thing about dakota's gauges, they all wire in about the same. I even called a rep with the company to confirm, the only thing you have to figure out...how to mount them. Other than that, there's an interface that most of them wire into. The other nifty thing they sport, blinkers and all kinds of dummy lights you can wire in. Oh and one can't forget the performance reading features, 0-60, 1/4 ET, etc. LOL! I sound like a sales rep but I can't help it, they're just so friggin' sick!

[85 S10 V8]

Yeah, the stock gauges were analog.

Mounting was pretty easy. The instructions are universal when it comes to mounting, but it's pretty straight forward.

As far as all of them wiring in the same: each Dakota Digital kit uses a common control module, but you have to make your own wiring harness to tie the vehicle and control module together.

I chose to use most of the original wiring that went to the old gauges, and rerouted the harness to the control box. For example, in my case, my truck was originally carburated, so I didn't use the choke function, but I tapped into the fuel injection harness for the "Check Engine" feature.

['94 Big Blaze]

sorry to bring up a old thread...but this is sweet, and where did you get the brushed dash pieces ?

[85 S10 V8]

Can't remember what distributor I bought them from....I'd have to look it up. But they're made by Carriage Works, I think their part number is 82001.

[88v8r]

what do you do if you have a caable speedo.

[Tink]

I'm wondering the same....

[85 S10 V8]

I had a cable speedo too. But with the 4L60E tranny, I tapped into the pulsed speed output on the transmission and used it for the speedo input on the instrument control unit. The speedometer cable is no longer used. I have 4-11 gears in the rear, but the the instrument control unit has a calibration function to accomodate gear changes, tire size, etc.

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

Very cool looking. I missed this one before. Maybe the company offers an add on module or a different version for the cable speedo?

[Zygoat]

probably, or if they dont im sure somebody does.

[85 S10 V8]

Dakota Digital might have one of their own. But I know Painless Wiring among others sells a cable-to-pulse module that attaches directly to the transmission.

[88v8r]

what if you have the 700r4 or a t5 tranny how do they work with them.

[jjwlff]

Where did he get that steering wheel??????

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

I'm not sure. But keep in mind that if your vehicle has airbags, it's illegal to remove them (or install a steering wheel that doesn't have them). I know some people don't care, but it's worth mentioning.