By Rob Fortier – Photography by the Author
In the new age of nostalgia, the technology within my HDX Series Dakota Digital C10 gauges is truly humbling. I pity those of you over 50 (maybe even younger!) who don’t have any kids. When it comes to modern electronics, I’d be lost without my teenage son for many things in the virtual world we live in! That said, I will be the first to acknowledge the vast advancements the performance aftermarket has made in recent years, with everything from drivetrain components to instrumentation—especially the latter.
Not so long ago, Dakota Digital was known for primarily just what their name implies: blue LED digital gauges. Today, while Dakota still offers their proprietary instrumentation, they’ve made leaps and bounds in technological advancements to the point where it’s almost as if they took two steps back instead of forward—and that’s a good thing! Why, you ask? Well, one look at their line of HDX C10 gauges (and the newly released RTX) digital-analog factory-retrofit gauges for Chevy C10 truck series (the entire line!) and you’d think they’d recreated the stock instrument clusters…that is, until you turned the ignition on for the first time and really got an in-depth look at what’s actually behind those beautiful analog gauge faces.
“Each HDX system allows the user to select independent illumination colors for the gauge readings and needles, as well as the message centers. Calibration and personal settings are adjusted using the built-in capacitive-touch buttons or the available Bluetooth app on Apple and Android devices. Each needle hub is black-nickel-plated, spun aluminum, to match the buttons. All HDX Series Dakota Digital C10 gauges feature dead-faced indicators (turn signals, high beam, check engine, cruise control, parking brake, plus two user-definable), and a red, settable warning light for each gauge. That’s true for other makes and models offered in the HDX Series. With our central control box, installation is greatly simplified with vehicle-harness sourced signals and supplied, solid-state sending units connecting cleanly to their respective terminal.”
Stay tuned for our follow-up installment when we integrate a custom-built Phoenix Transmissions 4L60E a Lokar Sport Mode shifter with our new Dakota Digital HDX instrumentation system.
Literally, HDX C10 gauges are a true plug-and-play solution; it bolts right up to your existing OE gauge bezel as well as any aftermarket reproduction—including their own, available separately (which we chose to use). Initial programming/setup is just as straightforward—even more so with that aforementioned teenage assistant! We’ll show you how easy that initial installation really is…however, as for the more advanced aspects, such as gear shift indicator, etc., we’ll continue that once we install our brand-new 4L60E from Phoenix Transmissions (with accompanying CompuShift TCU) along with Lokar’s trick Electronic Sport Mode shifter in our yet-to-be-named 1969 C10 project. Stay tuned—plenty more to come!
Dakota Digital
www.dakotadigital.com
(605) 332-6513
Jimenez Bros. Air Ride & Rod Shop
www.jimenezbrosairrideandrodshop.com
951-343-5948
