Over the past two days I installed a Dakota Digital HDX instrument cluster into my 1977 Bronco. It wasn't too difficult but it did take some time and wasn't without some frustration. I also installed the optional GSS-2000 gear position sensor so the display will show what gear is selected on the column shifter and a DIM-1 Light Dimming Knob so I can dim the display at night without pecking through the menus.
The HDX system includes new sensors for oil pressure, coolant temp, and sender to convert the factory gear driven speedometer to a digital type.
This is the gear position sensor being installed. To get to this area I had to unbolt the front driveshaft from the transfer case and tie it out of the way.
No Fun by willtel, on Flickr
The kit includes a bracket and linkage rods for a C4 and other popular transmissions. The hardest part about the whole install was drilling a 1/8" hole in the shift bracket to put the linkage rod in. Since I didn't have a ton of clearance I couldn't get the drill bit straight and it wouldn't start cutting. After two broken drill bits I made a little divot with a tiny carbide burr for a Dremel tool and finally got the drill bit started.
With the rod installed in the hell hole.
Shift Sensor by willtel, on Flickr
I dented each end of the rod with a pair of dykes so the rod can't work loose and bolted the driveshaft back in.
Here is the speedometer sensor installed with the included cable. You can also use a GPS speedometer with another module if you want to go that route.
Speedometer Sensor by willtel, on Flickr
I tied the wires for both sensors to some other harnesses and ran them up the inner fender and under the dash. I will need to plug the hole in the firewall from the old speedometer cable.
Wires by willtel, on Flickr
This is the new oil pressure sender. It screws right into the spot where the old one went.
Oil pressure sensor by willtel, on Flickr
This is the coolant temp sensor. I used to have a mechanical coolant temp gauge and removed it to install this one using the supplied adapters.
Coolant temperature sensor by willtel, on Flickr
Once all the sensors were installed I got onto the wiring. All the indicator lights from the factory cluster get wired into the Dakota Digital control box along with the wiring from the new sensors. There are lots of connections to be made along with power and ground wires for the main control box and a separate box that runs the shift position sensor.
If you look close at this pic you can see the dimmer knob mounted underneath the steering column. It came with an aluminum knob and bezel that matches the dash well.
A few wires by willtel, on Flickr
Once all the connections were made I turned it all on and did some testing. The control box has bluetooth and Dakota Digital has a phone app you can use change all the settings without using the two button menu on the display. You calibrate the speedometer using the GPS on your phone and tell it what type of fuel senders you have and that is it.
Testing by willtel, on Flickr
Overall this thing is very cool. It has a little pezio speaker and you can set up alarms to trigger for nearly any setting it can read like low oil pressure or low fuel. Once I tell it how big my fuel tanks are it will calculate range to empty and I now have a low fuel light and an accurate speedometer. You can change every color of the display on the fly too. If you want white gauges and red needles during the day and pink gauges and turquoise needles with purple text at night it can be configured. It is very bright and easy to read and it is nice to have a digital readout of oil pressure and water temp along with analog gauges. It also has service mileage reminders and loads of other stuff that can be added to it like a tire pressure monitoring system.
The HDX system includes new sensors for oil pressure, coolant temp, and sender to convert the factory gear driven speedometer to a digital type.
This is the gear position sensor being installed. To get to this area I had to unbolt the front driveshaft from the transfer case and tie it out of the way.
No Fun by willtel, on Flickr
The kit includes a bracket and linkage rods for a C4 and other popular transmissions. The hardest part about the whole install was drilling a 1/8" hole in the shift bracket to put the linkage rod in. Since I didn't have a ton of clearance I couldn't get the drill bit straight and it wouldn't start cutting. After two broken drill bits I made a little divot with a tiny carbide burr for a Dremel tool and finally got the drill bit started.
With the rod installed in the hell hole.
Shift Sensor by willtel, on Flickr
I dented each end of the rod with a pair of dykes so the rod can't work loose and bolted the driveshaft back in.
Here is the speedometer sensor installed with the included cable. You can also use a GPS speedometer with another module if you want to go that route.
Speedometer Sensor by willtel, on Flickr
I tied the wires for both sensors to some other harnesses and ran them up the inner fender and under the dash. I will need to plug the hole in the firewall from the old speedometer cable.
Wires by willtel, on Flickr
This is the new oil pressure sender. It screws right into the spot where the old one went.
Oil pressure sensor by willtel, on Flickr
This is the coolant temp sensor. I used to have a mechanical coolant temp gauge and removed it to install this one using the supplied adapters.
Coolant temperature sensor by willtel, on Flickr
Once all the sensors were installed I got onto the wiring. All the indicator lights from the factory cluster get wired into the Dakota Digital control box along with the wiring from the new sensors. There are lots of connections to be made along with power and ground wires for the main control box and a separate box that runs the shift position sensor.
If you look close at this pic you can see the dimmer knob mounted underneath the steering column. It came with an aluminum knob and bezel that matches the dash well.
A few wires by willtel, on Flickr
Once all the connections were made I turned it all on and did some testing. The control box has bluetooth and Dakota Digital has a phone app you can use change all the settings without using the two button menu on the display. You calibrate the speedometer using the GPS on your phone and tell it what type of fuel senders you have and that is it.
Testing by willtel, on Flickr
Overall this thing is very cool. It has a little pezio speaker and you can set up alarms to trigger for nearly any setting it can read like low oil pressure or low fuel. Once I tell it how big my fuel tanks are it will calculate range to empty and I now have a low fuel light and an accurate speedometer. You can change every color of the display on the fly too. If you want white gauges and red needles during the day and pink gauges and turquoise needles with purple text at night it can be configured. It is very bright and easy to read and it is nice to have a digital readout of oil pressure and water temp along with analog gauges. It also has service mileage reminders and loads of other stuff that can be added to it like a tire pressure monitoring system.