Gear Indicator - Lit??

[Scott91370]

I installed a set of Dakota Digital gauges and they retain the factory gear indicator but now there is not a light on it. I don't mind but my daughter would really like one there.

Anybody run into this and have an easy fix?

 

[CalSgt]

I installed a set of Dakota Digital gauges and they retain the factory gear indicator but now there is not a light on it. I don't mind but my daughter would really like one there.

Anybody run into this and have an easy fix?

Mine isn't up & running yet to give it an honest review but I went with a Dakota digital gear position sender which will allow the gauges to display the gear in the screen.

https://www.dakotadigital.com/index...id=1222/category_id=401/mode=prod/prd1222.htm

ETA: Another reason I went this way was to avoid the damn gear indicators, seems like before I retired the truck in 2008 I had replaced that little sucker 5 times. Broken strings (cables?), broken return springs Etc.

 

[Randy and Easton]

@Scott91370 which Dakota set you go with? Where did you buy it and what would you say on scale of 1-10 degree of difficulty for a couple of shade tree DIY guys in North Richland Hills?

If my instrument cluster does not go in like I want I think I’m going Dakota….saw them at Southwest Customs in Arlington Monday.

 

[TotalyHucked]

The only thing I can think of is coming up with a mount for a peanut bulb and wire it into switched power at the fuse block. I didn't even put the indicator back on mine when I put my Dakotas in, I've just got nothing there lol

 

[Scott91370]

@Scott91370 which Dakota set you go with? Where did you buy it and what would you say on scale of 1-10 degree of difficulty for a couple of shade tree DIY guys in North Richland Hills?

If my instrument cluster does not go in like I want I think I’m going Dakota….saw them at Southwest Customs in Arlington Monday.

I went with the VHX-73C-PU Black Alloy Background - Click Here To See

I bought mine used from a guy - that won't help you.


Difficulty - 3 or 4 tops! Maybe a 2-3 if you weren't in NRH- Making sure you connect to the right wires is probably the hardest part of the install.
I left the plug on mine and used the blue vampire taps to connect the wiring.

There are some videos here: https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=results/category_id=808/mode=cat/cat808.htm
And install instructions here: https://www.dakotadigital.com/index...t_id=393/category_id=255/mode=prod/prd393.htm

Right now I have one issue with mine but I think it is a grounding issue - the fuel sender is either Full or Empty. Nothing in the middle and it changes randomly.
And I haven't set the speedo up yet. But this should be easy, just have to find a place with low traffic flow becaise I hate doing stuff like this around other people.

 

[Randy and Easton]

Great info ! Thanks. If I get defeated on the original cluster I will probably go that route and Easton will be thrilled cuz dads buying it to make HIS life easier…
We are extremely challenged here in NRH for sure…

I was looking at installation instructions and the oil sending unit, so I have to get this in at the block or can it be in line somewhere? So little room behind the HEI to get to the block.


Randy and E

 

[Scott91370]

Great info ! Thanks. If I get defeated on the original cluster I will probably go that route and Easton will be thrilled cuz dads buying it to make HIS life easier…
We are extremely challenged here in NRH for sure…

I was looking at installation instructions and the oil sending unit, so I have to get this in at the block or can it be in line somewhere? So little room behind the HEI to get to the block.


Randy and E

I put mine in the block where they say to but I had a few parts out so I was able to get to it much easier. If you're brave you could pull the HEI, do the sender install and retime it. Or the throttle/trans bracket could come off.

 

[Randy and Easton]

Ugh, … remember we are the NRH crew… we like easy….

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Does not have its own bulb. Receives radiant light from bulb above it. If you have old bulbs they may not be bright enough to light it. I replaced all my cluster bulbs with led. Made all the difference in the world. Several people sell them, I think I got mine from ebay.