This is what we’ve been staring...
This is what we’ve been staring at for the last 100K or so miles. We were tired of looking at it and decided some updates were in order.
In the ’70s, most truck manufacturers decided that the average person wasn’t capable of interpreting the gauges on the dashboard. Evidently, it was done to make us feel secure--the sense of well-being that comes from gauges firmly planted in the normal zone. As a result the amp, oil pressure, and temperature gauges on our ’73 Ford never strayed far from center. In fact, the only one that seemed to go from one extreme to the other was the fuel gauge, and it did that with some regularity.
When we decided to make some updates to our project Hot Rod Hauler, one of the areas that definitely needed some help was the dash. Over the years, we added real gauges below the dash, but they certainly weren’t in our line of sight. So, when we changed to a transmission that had a sender for an electronic speedometer, that was all the excuse we needed to install a set of Dakota Digital instruments.
Dakota Digital has been manufacturing quality instrumentation and specialty electronics for 25 years and we’ve used them in a variety of street rods. As we’ve always liked the looks of them, and our truck could certainly benefit from their accuracy, we ordered part number VFD-73F-pu, a six-gauge instrument system for ’73 to ’79 Ford pickups that includes a speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, oil pressure, temperature, volts as well as indicator lights for turn signals and high beam (the included gear indicator requires an optional sender).
Installing the Dakota Digital instruments requires some modifications to the original instrument panel, which is what we’re going to concentrate on here. There is some rewiring that has to be done to accommodate the new instrumentation, however, there are some other electrical issues to deal with as well. First, we were installing an electronically controlled E4OD automatic transmission at the same time and will be using the speed sensor on the transmission for both the transmission’s computer and the Dakota Digital speedometer. But the bigger issue is the condition of the trucks electrical system. We discovered the ignition switch plug was damaged from overheating, a common malady with Ford trucks of this vintage. So, we’ve decided to concentrate on the modification of the instrument panel (and the installation of the transmission) this month and will address all the electrical issues, as well as a few other interior changes we want to make, next time around. Stay tuned, it’ll be worth it. CCT
We opted to fill the stock...
We opted to fill the stock dash with Dakota Digital instruments not only for aesthetic reasons, but for their accuracy as well.
After removal from the dash,...
After removal from the dash, the stock gauge cluster will be disassembled and the front of the plastic housing will be used to mount the new Dakota Digital instruments.
On the back of the stock cluster...
On the back of the stock cluster is a printed circuit that feeds all the gauges, lights and indicators—note the plug where all the wiring plugs into the panel.
The dash plug can be seen...
The dash plug can be seen just above the steering column. We’ll be removing the plug and identifying the wires that will have to be connected to the Dakota Digital panel.
After removing the attachment...
After removing the attachment screws, the back half of the instrument panel is removed—none of this will be reused.
This is the face of the original...
This is the face of the original Ford instrument panel viewed from the backside. Note the number of projections and the shapes of the openings.
A hacksaw blade was used to...
A hacksaw blade was used to remove the various tabs that interfered with the new Dakota Digital instruments. Notice that the openings on the side were modified as well.
Here’s the modified dash panel...
Here’s the modified dash panel from the front.
The Dakota Digital instruments...
The Dakota Digital instruments are mounted in an aluminum box that will attach to the modified Ford panel.
A test fit of the new instruments...
A test fit of the new instruments revealed that there was no interference between the two.
Dakota Digital offers two...
Dakota Digital offers two sets of colored lenses for this set of gauges: teal and blue.
The backs of the lens are...
The backs of the lens are masked so only the LED displays are seen from the front.
We have to admit to being...
We have to admit to being surprised at how perfectly the new lens fit into the front of the Ford panel—no gaps anywhere and no sanding or filing was necessary to put them in place. The only trick is making sure to put the right lens in each opening.
Here are the new lenses viewed...
Here are the new lenses viewed from the back.
Although they fit tightly...
Although they fit tightly into the Ford panel, we added a bead of clear silicone to the edges of the lenses to hold them in place.
The Dakota Digital housing...
The Dakota Digital housing attaches to the Ford panel with the original screws. The ribbon connector hooks up to the supplied control box.
With the plastic lens off...
With the plastic lens off the instrument panel, we realized how yellowed and scratched it had become. It took a while, but plastic polish restored it to new condition.
This is the control box that...
This is the control box that hooks to the ribbon connector from the new instruments. The connectors with screws are where the wires from the various senders attach.
Dakota Digital supplies the...
Dakota Digital supplies the wires to connect the control unit to the oil pressure, water temperature and speedometer senders. Other feeds, such as those for fuel gauge, turn indicator lights, high beam indicator and so on, will come from the stock dash plug shown earlier.
This is the sender Dakota...
This is the sender Dakota Digital supply for the speedometer. As we were also updating to an electronically controlled transmission, it already has a speed sensor that delivers information to the computer as well as the speedometer.
The new instruments require...
The new instruments require specific senders for the oil pressure and temperature displays, which are also included. The stock fuel level senders are used, however, the display requires calibrating.
Speaking of calibrating, these...
Speaking of calibrating, these two buttons are used to calibrate the fuel gauge and the speedometer.