Dakota Digital VHX guages

[Lngbrdz]

Just purchased the Dakota Digital VHX gauges for my 69 dodge charger. Looking for ideas of where anyone may have mounted the brain box for the guages. Dash is currently out of car so options are open.
Thanks in advance.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I got the DD VHX gauges for my 70 Roadrunner. I'm having them installed along with a lot of other work.
I can only say broadly that the "brain box" has to reach the gauge encasement socket where the data cable connects, and multiple sensor wires connect to the brain box. I know that is a broad generality. I'd say put it in the most accessible place w/in reach of the main data cable length.
I'm stoked to get it installed! I also got a DD gauge set for our 65 GTO.

 

[Lngbrdz]

I got the DD VHX gauges for my 70 Roadrunner. I'm having them installed along with a lot of other work.
I can only say broadly that the "brain box" has to reach the gauge encasement socket where the data cable connects, and multiple sensor wires connect to the brain box. I know that is a broad generality. I'd say put it in the most accessible place w/in reach of the main data cable length.
I'm stoked to get it installed! I also got a DD gauge set for our 65 GTO.

Thanks for the info. Im going to be doing the american autowire install too so I will have lots of options. Just trying to see what people might have done

 

[biomedtechguy]

I'll add that I installed an Autometer tach with a shift light. The light is hard wired into the tach, but mounts separately from it. The tach itself is in the dash where the clock that showed the correct time twice a day used to be.
With the Dakota Digital gauges, I'll need a programmable stand alone shift light from my understanding. The DD dash can be setup to indicate a shift point has been reached, but running my manual transmission Roadrunner down the 1320 keeps me pretty busy, so I need a shift light that's hard to miss when it lights.
I AM going to try whatever "light" indicator the DD setup offers, but I suspect I'll need something that is easier to notice.

 

[Derwud]

I got a guy on Instgram that made mount that bolts to the steering column brace..

 

[Derwud]

I'll add that I installed an Autometer tach with a shift light. The light is hard wired into the tach, but mounts separately from it. The tach itself is in the dash where the clock that showed the correct time twice a day used to be.
With the Dakota Digital gauges, I'll need a programmable stand alone shift light from my understanding. The DD dash can be setup to indicate a shift point has been reached, but running my manual transmission Roadrunner down the 1320 keeps me pretty busy, so I need a shift light that's hard to miss when it lights.
I AM going to try whatever "light" indicator the DD setup offers, but I suspect I'll need something that is easier to notice.

The Dakota Digital has a Shift light output as well..

 

[Mike67]

You can mount it anywhere. The last 3 that I've done I attached them with velcro so it can be removed easily for trouble shooting. As far as the connector cable you can use any CAT5E or 6 cable if you need to extend the length.

 

[Derwud]

You can mount it anywhere. The last 3 that I've done I attached them with velcro so it can be removed easily for trouble shooting. As far as the connector cable you can use any CAT5E or 6 cable if you need to extend the length.

Good to know, wish I had more room in the Center Console.

 

[Stoney]

Just purchased the Dakota Digital VHX gauges for my 69 dodge charger. Looking for ideas of where anyone may have mounted the brain box for the guages. Dash is currently out of car so options are open.
Thanks in advance.

I have a 1970 Charger and I installed the brain in my center console and hid the wires under the carpet. Good Luck

 

[Charger686970]

I picked up a set of the Dakota Digital gauges for my 68 charger, I put a new dash harness in the car and my question is how are you guys hooking the dakota gauges into the factory harness? Since the original circuit board has the pins, what is the best way to hook to the wires in the factory harness that used the pins to the dakots gauges ( turn signals, high beams etc.?)

Thanks for the help

 

[Derwud]

I picked up a set of the Dakota Digital gauges for my 68 charger, I put a new dash harness in the car and my question is how are you guys hooking the dakota gauges into the factory harness? Since the original circuit board has the pins, what is the best way to hook to the wires in the factory harness that used the pins to the dakots gauges ( turn signals, high beams etc.?)

Thanks for the help

Easiest (and most painful) is to cut the pins and connect to the Dakota Module.. Hardest (and best?) Cut the harness and make 3 connectors, 1 for the Harness side and 2 opposite connectors, 1 with the factory pins, in case you go back to stock and 1 to the Dakota box. I being the gluten for punishment that I am, would do the second.

 

[Charger686970]

Easiest (and most painful) is to cut the pins and connect to the Dakota Module.. Hardest (and best?) Cut the harness and make 3 connectors, 1 for the Harness side and 2 opposite connectors, 1 with the factory pins, in case you go back to stock and 1 to the Dakota box. I being the gluten for punishment that I am, would do the second.

I wanted to make a harness with using pins from a extra circuit board, your idea of a connector with factory pins and then another harness for the Dakota box is good, I don't plan on going back to the factory ( Redline Gauges restored the factory gauges and they got pirated for our parents 69 charger) but you never know. After we used the restored gauges for our parents that gave me the excuse to buy the Dakota...not like i needed one was going to buy them anyways. Thanks for the ideas

 

[Charger686970]

Easiest (and most painful) is to cut the pins and connect to the Dakota Module.. Hardest (and best?) Cut the harness and make 3 connectors, 1 for the Harness side and 2 opposite connectors, 1 with the factory pins, in case you go back to stock and 1 to the Dakota box. I being the gluten for punishment that I am, would do the second.

I was also thinking of carefully stripping the casing of each wire at the factory connector and soldering wires to each one to lead to the box, then if I go back to factory gauges the harness will still plug on and I can just tie the Dakota wires up under the dash or just snip them off as close to were I soldered them?

 

[Derwud]

So here is the deal. You really only bring a few wires from the stock dash. 2 power wires, a ground, gas gauge, parking brake ground, light power, t/s wires, high beam indicator. Oil pressure, temp, and speedo take new wiring from their sensors.

Don't forget to connect your ammeter connectors..

 

[Derwud]

I am going to stuff it in my center console..