After Market Gauge Sets

[biomedtechguy]

I got a deal from a local authorized dealer on this Dakota digital 70 Roadrunner dash

with red backlighting (best for night vision)

and is compatible with the A/F ratio module and the Innovative Motorsports A/F system with this Dakota digital module

I may use the A/F add on if it shows BOTH left and right O2 sensors simultaneously, otherwise I'll just use the Innovative Motorsports dual bank gauge.

That is going to be GREAT for my 6bbl intake

 

[aeon280]

I am waiting for my Intellitronix kit to show up this week. Going with build a dash kit with the green LED,s like yours. Have to build a custom bezel using MDF and my old long sweep unit. I will then wrap it in fiberglass and carbon fiber. Curious why you didnt just use the bright and turn indicators built into the speedo unit?

Some photos of the Coronet cluster conversion in progress. Cut out the original sweep and used basswood from hobby store to make new bezel. Then wrapped in fleece and epoxy. Just finished sanding and laying down filler. Will sand and wrap in carbon fiber cloth then install imtellitronix build a gauge kit on bottom side.

 

[Torkmnstr]

Getting there with mine..

 

[Average Joe]

Nice!!

 

[Bbodycomeback]

i will say this much i do resto mods for a living and dakota gauges have let me down to many times

 

[biomedtechguy]

i will say this much i do resto mods for a living and dakota gauges have let me down to many times

If it's "too many times" (and I am not suggesting that I doubt you) then it should be easy for you to give some examples of how they have let you down, and what manufacturing defect or inherent flaw led to the problem.
Maybe that will help when I install my Dakota Digital dash, which I bought around 2 or 3 years ago and haven't got around to installing it.

 

[Bbodycomeback]

Fair enough.personal opinion cheaply manufactured i.e. cheap electronic components. Example I installed three different oil and fuel sending units in a 85 cj7 each time they would work for a few key cycles and stop working.example #2 k 10 blazer ls3 swap oil pressure gauge inop twice out of the box.#3 72 fj cruiser fuel gauge would not calibrate along with speedo.These are my experiences and in my buisness time is money .when a estimate is given and starts to ary because of inferior parts or come back for inoperative systems then that reflects on me and my reputation.speedway or autometer.autometer has been around for years and is a reliable tried but true company.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Fair enough.personal opinion cheaply manufactured i.e. cheap electronic components. Example I installed three different oil and fuel sending units in a 85 cj7 each time they would work for a few key cycles and stop working.example #2 k 10 blazer ls3 swap oil pressure gauge inop twice out of the box.#3 72 fj cruiser fuel gauge would not calibrate along with speedo.These are my experiences and in my buisness time is money .when a estimate is given and starts to ary because of inferior parts or come back for inoperative systems then that reflects on me and my reputation.speedway or autometer.autometer has been around for years and is a reliable tried but true company.

Thank you for your reply.
I am already "invested" since so much time has passed since I bought it.
It is the complete 70 Roadrunner dash kit.
I still expect great results, but I appreciate the input.
I saw the kit I bought on the back cover of a quarterly Classic Industries catalog, and BAM! I just had to have it! Reasons being I had taken the dash dimmer out because it was giving me problems with the dash lights either being too dim or off. I also have some occasional problems with the water temp gauge "going away" sporadically. Even thoroughly cleaned, the dimmer is inconsistent and the factory dash lights leave much to be desired. Since then I've changed out the 18 spline Hemi 833 4 speed with a Passon Performance a855 and went from the Track Pack 3.54s to 4.10s in the Dana 60.
So I expect a lot of issues will be resolved by the Dakota Digital dash, and damn! they look great!
The only downside is I really like the Autometer tachometer that fit in the (cut) modded dash lens cover which replaced my factory clock that only showed the correct time twice a day, and honesty, time of day is NOT critical to a guy who likes to race his car from time to time.
The Autometer also has an attached shift light which is GREAT.
If the Dakota Digital dash does not have a shift light "option" built in or as an add on, I am going to add a "stand alone" programmable shift light.
As noted earlier a few posts back, my Innovate Motorsports dual wideband O2 system can be displayed on the Dakota Digital dash, but I don't know what that looks like yet. I have the dual wideband O2 display gauge that comes with the system though, and I don't mind finding a place for it if that works best to convey the information that I bought it for to begin with.

 

[Bbodycomeback]

I like your build .I had a 69 road runner and it was a numbers matching car including engine until you looked inside lol ran great kept everything bone stock looking but man did it go .I would like to see your finished product I am a road runner man .

 

[Torkmnstr]

Fair enough.personal opinion cheaply manufactured i.e. cheap electronic components. Example I installed three different oil and fuel sending units in a 85 cj7 each time they would work for a few key cycles and stop working.example #2 k 10 blazer ls3 swap oil pressure gauge inop twice out of the box.#3 72 fj cruiser fuel gauge would not calibrate along with speedo.These are my experiences and in my buisness time is money .when a estimate is given and starts to ary because of inferior parts or come back for inoperative systems then that reflects on me and my reputation.speedway or autometer.autometer has been around for years and is a reliable tried but true company.

What did they do for you after each one?

 

[biomedtechguy]

I like your build

If you're referring to me, my car is a REAL V-code 70 Roadrunner, but the engine is a "heavy rods" 1971 440.
There are a couple of brothers who are in my car club and friends of mine who went the "factory correct" route, although one has a 426 Hemi which is not the correct motor for the car. After seeing what they do and spend to go that route, and "competing" in shows with them, always knowing I would place lower than their cars, and loving to take my car to the racetrack, I am going more "boulevard bruiser" with my build, and instead of getting the "correct" hardware, I am just making sure the nuts, bolts, etc are top quality and as strong or nice looking as possible.
If you are referring to another build, well that's ok too.

 

[Bbodycomeback]

With each failure of the gauges they sent replacements.but in any ball game three strikes your out.i don't use them any more.but I suppose other people have good workings with them and that's ok.just food for thought.

 

[trainwreck]

So many choices. I used AM carbon fiber gauges and wanting to use the stock dash without the stock crinklelook I used a SE charger woodgrain cover and merely sanded the woodgrain off in prep for a carbon fiber overlay on my 70 Pro Touring Bird. Super easy and haven't seen it done before.

 

[Acworld34]

Getting there with mine..
View attachment 627200

any updates or pictures of the finished product?

 

[biomedtechguy]

Dakota Digital came out with the new RTX series gauge system right before I installed the VHX series I had for a while in the box.
I like the factory stock appearance of the RTX and it has tremendous features including a remote dash capability on smart phones and tablets.
Here's the RTX in action:

 

[72 Satellite]

I opted for Speedhut and Classic Dash. Here are a couple pics - I am very pleased.

View attachment 579480 View attachment 579481 View attachment 579482

I have a Classic Dash for my 72 Plymouth. Only issue I had was the fitment for the OEM HVAC Controller. Had to spend quite a bit of time & effort modifying the back to accept the controller. The back of the panel was way too rounded to mount the flat rectangular controller, without lots of modification to make it fit. Curious how you handled the situation.

 

[rescuediver1982]

I have a Classic Dash for my 72 Plymouth. Only issue I had was the fitment for the OEM HVAC Controller. Had to spend quite a bit of time & effort modifying the back to accept the controller. The back of the panel was way too rounded to mount the flat rectangular controller, without lots of modification to make it fit. Curious how you handled the situation.

My classic dash worked pretty well and I didn’t have to modify anything to fit my hvac controls.