Dakota Digital HDX Install Write Up

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

gmbellew

Full Access Member
Joined
May 27, 2018
Posts
1,239
Reaction score
1,327
Location
Kansas city
First Name
glen
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
suburban 1500
Engine Size
350
Gear indicator for what?
for the transmission. I noticed in the photo, you didn't reinstall the stock indicator. I was wondering if you were going to use it or maybe something works with the gauges to show PRNOD21?
 

bluex

Full Access Member
Joined
May 9, 2013
Posts
1,987
Reaction score
2,637
Location
Spartanburg SC
First Name
Paul
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C15
Engine Size
350
for the transmission. I noticed in the photo, you didn't reinstall the stock indicator. I was wondering if you were going to use it or maybe something works with the gauges to show PRNOD21?

It can be shown on the gauges depending on the vehicle. For a square with a stock trans it requires an add on gear indicator module. With an LS engine/trans swap you can read it out of the pcm with an OBD2 module, I believe.
 

Old60Driver

1983 K20 Silverado
Joined
May 17, 2020
Posts
245
Reaction score
306
Location
Houston
First Name
Michael
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
350
I just installed the VHX version. I had the option of covering up the stock gear selector with a supplied blocker, and using something on the gauge to tell me which gear I was in. I'm guessing that's what he's asking about since the gear selector wasn't in OP's photo? Might not have installed it yet I'm guessing? I left mine stock. ;)
 

Old60Driver

1983 K20 Silverado
Joined
May 17, 2020
Posts
245
Reaction score
306
Location
Houston
First Name
Michael
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
350
To the OP, do you have dual tanks? Mine work and all, but I literally have to turn the key to on (not started), make the switch on the dash, turn the key off, then start it up. Then, and ONLY then will the gauge show that I switched tanks. I reached out to Dakota for clarification, but haven't received a response as of yet. Still, pretty pleased with the install.
 

Old77

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Posts
28,491
Reaction score
9,556
Location
Kansas City, Mo
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1977/1990/1991
Truck Model
C10 longbed/R1500 Burb/R3500 Dually
Engine Size
350/350/454
for the transmission. I noticed in the photo, you didn't reinstall the stock indicator. I was wondering if you were going to use it or maybe something works with the gauges to show PRNOD21?
I just haven’t added it back in yet. Still deciding if I want to or not. I can function pretty well without it so not sure just yet
 

Old77

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Posts
28,491
Reaction score
9,556
Location
Kansas City, Mo
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1977/1990/1991
Truck Model
C10 longbed/R1500 Burb/R3500 Dually
Engine Size
350/350/454
To the OP, do you have dual tanks? Mine work and all, but I literally have to turn the key to on (not started), make the switch on the dash, turn the key off, then start it up. Then, and ONLY then will the gauge show that I switched tanks. I reached out to Dakota for clarification, but haven't received a response as of yet. Still, pretty pleased with the install.
This is on my suburban so no I do not. That certainly seems odd
 

Old60Driver

1983 K20 Silverado
Joined
May 17, 2020
Posts
245
Reaction score
306
Location
Houston
First Name
Michael
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
350
Just heard back from Dakota Digital:

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Old77

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Posts
28,491
Reaction score
9,556
Location
Kansas City, Mo
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1977/1990/1991
Truck Model
C10 longbed/R1500 Burb/R3500 Dually
Engine Size
350/350/454
Just heard back from Dakota Digital:

You must be registered for see images attach
Wow, good information to know! Thank you for including that as it may be useful in the future. At this time, I don't plan to switch gauges in the dually but could change if I ever have issues with my speedo breaking in it or something like that. I'll definitely keep this info in mind if I do that and maybe it'll help someone else in their Google searches.
 

Old60Driver

1983 K20 Silverado
Joined
May 17, 2020
Posts
245
Reaction score
306
Location
Houston
First Name
Michael
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
350
Quite welcome good sir!
 

TFerguson

Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2022
Posts
36
Reaction score
40
Location
Richmond VA
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
Blazer
Engine Size
350 (5.7)
Very nice write-up! I have the VHX gauges, and really love 'em. I'm digging the larger and more colorful LED info screens on your set. Looks like you get more than one line of info on those, which is great. The VHX has smaller LCD screens, which are still good, but not quite as pretty. :D
 

Old77

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Posts
28,491
Reaction score
9,556
Location
Kansas City, Mo
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1977/1990/1991
Truck Model
C10 longbed/R1500 Burb/R3500 Dually
Engine Size
350/350/454
Very nice write-up! I have the VHX gauges, and really love 'em. I'm digging the larger and more colorful LED info screens on your set. Looks like you get more than one line of info on those, which is great. The VHX has smaller LCD screens, which are still good, but not quite as pretty. :D
Yeah, those two screens are actually 4 screens in the configuration that I can customize to see whatever I want to see. It's pretty useful :)
 

midnightblue

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2022
Posts
29
Reaction score
18
Location
western PA
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K5
Engine Size
350
Awesome write up! thanks for sharing. Maybe not related but how is your oil pressure? Is there much of a difference between the original distributor sensor location vs the Oil filter location?
 

Old77

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Posts
28,491
Reaction score
9,556
Location
Kansas City, Mo
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1977/1990/1991
Truck Model
C10 longbed/R1500 Burb/R3500 Dually
Engine Size
350/350/454
Awesome write up! thanks for sharing. Maybe not related but how is your oil pressure? Is there much of a difference between the original distributor sensor location vs the Oil filter location?
Oil pressure while going down the hwy reads at 40-45 psi. With the old gauges that read from the old sensor (near the distributor) it was reading closer to 50 psi or a little higher. With that said, there’s nothing to say that the old sensor wasn’t giving an optimistic reading that wasn’t super accurate :shrug: Overall, I’m satisfied with the readings and feel like the readings are pretty on point.
 

oldsguy

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2024
Posts
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Texas
First Name
Tim
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
305
Do you remember what wire you used for the fuel? I've seen pin 18 or pin 7. Thanks. Mine has dual tanks.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,411
Posts
956,918
Members
36,732
Latest member
blackmfcowboy
Top