Dakota Digital dash help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-28-2012, 11:25 AM
exlimey's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Elk Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 173
Default Dakota Digital dash help

I just picked up a NIB Dakota Digital instrument setup(all digital) and NIB billet door sills on Craigslist for an amazing price. It was excess from a hot rod shop build and was never installed.

I have 3 instrument bezels and the left side gauges(fuel & volts) on the digital cluster seem to be about 1/4" off to the right. The picture on their site shows a 1970-72 bezel but it also says it fits 1970-78. My bezels are from a 1977 and fit my stock gauge cluster perfectly. Has anyone else had this issue or know how I can correct it?

I do have an email into Dokota Digital's tech support but I doubt I'll hear anything for a couple of days. I'm also going to go over to NPD to see if they have a bezel that will fit. Thanks for any help.
 
  #2  
Old 10-28-2012, 01:57 PM
77nomad's Avatar
Overdrive Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: off the grid
Posts: 4,848
Default

You are correct about the bezel. Heck the gauges will work all the way to 81. The lay out is exact except for the blinkers and eventually the check engine light. Anyhow to your question. I don't know of anyone with a DD dash. To each his own on that one. There new stuff is ok but that old one has a calculator feel to me.

Post up some pics, maybe we can all come up with a solution.
 
  #3  
Old 10-28-2012, 07:53 PM
exlimey's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Elk Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 173
Default

Damon, I wasn't too keen on the all digital instruments either but when I got it and saw it in the bezel I do like it. The price was great. I got the complete NIB dash kit($765 from Dakota Digital) and the NIB billet sill plates($292 from Jegs) for $300.

I'm going to go to NPD tomorrow and see if the 70-72 dash bezel is a fit. The pictures of both the digital and analog clusters are below. The difference is subtle but the digital fuel and volts gauges are just a bit closer to the speedo than are the analog gauges. I hope you can see it from the pictures.

Name:  Comparedigitalsizetoanalog2.jpg
Views: 2063
Size:  94.8 KB

Name:  ANALOGIN77BEZEL.jpg
Views: 1624
Size:  107.3 KB

Hard to see but the left gauges are offset to the right about 1/4"
Name:  Digitalin77bezel.jpg
Views: 1163
Size:  118.4 KB

Name:  digitaldash2.jpg
Views: 726
Size:  73.9 KB
 

Last edited by exlimey; 10-28-2012 at 07:56 PM.
  #4  
Old 10-29-2012, 02:21 AM
77nomad's Avatar
Overdrive Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: off the grid
Posts: 4,848
Default

It wouldn't by any chance "bend" to conform to the bezel when its all together would it? Maybe have to slice and dice then reassemble with thin sheet metal (aluminum) zip screwed to the housing somehow. I can see it in my head better than explain.

It was a good deal you got. I have a set of NOS plates my ex bought me for Christmas years ago before they got all taken up. They make a difference when added to new carpet for sure.
 
  #5  
Old 10-29-2012, 06:07 PM
exlimey's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Elk Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 173
Default

Well my trip to NPD today was productive in a way. The salesman was great and brought out all the possible parts combos from the catalog. The OER dash bezel fit exactly the same way my 3 stock GM bezels did. I found out that OER has a problem with the dash lens assembly that they're selling. Their rear housing and dash bezel are correct but the lens assembly doesn't fit even their branded bezel. I came home and swapped the lens assembly from my stock cluster and low and behold it fits correctly. Problem solved. Now all I need to do is clean and polish the old lenses and I have a good digital dash setup.
 
  #6  
Old 10-29-2012, 06:59 PM
exlimey's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Elk Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 173
Default

A couple of pictures of the fixed setup and the billet door sills.

Name:  Digitalwitholdlens5.jpg
Views: 739
Size:  122.9 KB

Name:  Digitalwitholdlens3.jpg
Views: 780
Size:  99.1 KB

Name:  billetsillplate5.jpg
Views: 734
Size:  65.7 KB
 
  #7  
Old 10-30-2012, 03:27 AM
77nomad's Avatar
Overdrive Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: off the grid
Posts: 4,848
Default

Gauge marks sells the correct lens. Those sill plates are nice. I was thinking stock, I like those more and also think they help tie the gauges to the rest of the car.
 
  #8  
Old 10-30-2012, 06:48 PM
exlimey's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Elk Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 173
Default

The sill plates are really nice. they're thick billet aluminum and look great. My wife's dad was an engineer at Fisher Body for a lot of years so I wasn't sure if I'd get flack for not having the Fisher Carriage Works badge on them. Thankfully she's good with it.....lol.

I'll have to email Gauge Marks to see if they sell just the lens assembly. All I saw was complete packages. Thanks for the sources on that and the epoxy primer!
 
  #9  
Old 10-31-2012, 04:18 AM
77nomad's Avatar
Overdrive Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: off the grid
Posts: 4,848
Default

Its cool. After 15 yrs owning this and that Camaros. I've learned the good spots.
 
  #10  
Old 10-31-2012, 05:27 PM
exlimey's Avatar
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Elk Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 173
Default

I'm on my third although the prior two were back in the 70s. My first was a 69 that I did extensive mods to and the second was a brand new 77 base model with nice level of options. In between were a bunch of daily driver boring rides, except snowmobiles as I lived in Alaska for 22+ years. This one is taking time but it's fun learning new skills. Next time I'm headed to the west side I'd like to get a hold of you and swap stories.
 

Last edited by exlimey; 11-12-2012 at 12:51 PM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
waggl1
New Members Area
1
08-13-2013 02:59 PM
AHM84
70-81 General
4
12-19-2009 10:57 AM
monty88
New Members Area
5
08-30-2009 02:50 PM
CamaroBerlinetta
General Tech
0
01-12-2009 11:27 AM



Quick Reply: Dakota Digital dash help



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:46 AM.