Internet Archive. Yahoo! is not affiliated with the authors of this page or responsible for its content.
Dakota Digital
Dakota Digital






VACUUM FLUORESCENT DIGITAL DASHBOARD




The latest in digital dashboard technology for the
street rodder, car, and truck enthusiast.





INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL


Please read this before beginning installation or wiring.



MODELS STR3B, STR3C, STR4B,
STR5B, STR6B, & STR6C





Thank you for purchasing the Vacuum Fluorescent Digital Dashboard from DAKOTA
DIGITAL, the leader in custom automotive electronics. Representing the latest electronics
dashboard technology for the street rodder and car enthusiast alike, the digital instrumentation
uses state of the art vacuum fluorescent display technology to give the driver up to date and
accurate information on the operation of his or her vehicle. As used in several production
automobiles, vacuum fluorescent displays give superior performance and visual appeal over
LCD or LED display systems. Emitting a blue/green light that can be filtered to a wide variety of
colors, the VFD system boasts excellent daytime visibility and while under computer control,
automatically dims for nighttime driving. Using microprocessor technology, the digital
dashboard gives the driver additional features and benefits not typically found on any other
brand or type of instrumentation. Digital accuracy and solid state reliability will give you, the
driver, quality service for miles down the road.












Left
turn
signal
Right
turn
signal










High beam indicator
Odometer/trip
odometer







Gear shift indicator (requires optional sender)

DISPLAY FEATURES
Your DAKOTA DIGITAL instrumentation panel has many features, some of which you
will not be able to see until the instrumentation is completely wired and installed. The turn
signals and the high beam indicators are part of the digital speedometer display therefore you
will not see them before the instrumentation is installed. If your panel is a year specific street
rod panel you may also have additional green and or red LED's which also can be used for turn
signals and high beam indicators. These panels allow you to use either the indicators that are a
part of your speedometer, or the LED's.

The odometer is the bottom display of the speedometer area. This is the same display
that will function as the resettable trip-odometer. The digit furthest to the right of the odometer
will become your gear shift indicator if you purchased the optional gear shift sending unit. Every
DAKOTA DIGITAL instrumentation panel is equipped with this indicator. If you did not originally
order a gear shift sending unit, and would like to have a gear shift indicator, you may order the
sending unit at anytime and when properly installed, the gear shift indicator will operate. WARNING

The vacuum fluorescent displays are made of glass and should be handled with care. Use extreme care
around the glass evacuation tubes (small tubes at the bottom of each display) as bumping them may cause
breakage and render the display useless.


MOUNTING DISPLAY SYSTEMS WITH SUBPANELS

When mounting instrumentation systems mounted to a Lexan subpanel, begin by
removing the subpanel from the aluminum. Cut an opening in the dash just smaller than the
outer dimensions of the aluminum panel. Remove all nuts and washers from the studs on the
back side of the panel and insert into the hole. Next, install four washers or clips and secure
with a nut on each. This is what holds the panel to the dashboard. Now, install a nut on each
stud and set the display panel in place over the studs. If the studs were bent slightly inward
from securing the aluminum panel, you may have to bend them outward to line up with the holes
on the lectern subpanel. Always lay the display panel aside when not in use to avoid
accidentally damaging the displays. Once aligned, secure it with an additional four nuts. Leave
a gap of no less than 1/8" between the display glass and the front lens material. Be careful not
to compress the glass against the front lens. Again, note that the displays are glass and should
be handled with care. Use extreme care around the glass evacuation tubes (small tubes at the
bottom of each display) as bumping them may cause breakage and render the display useless.
MOUNTING SYSTEMS WITH DISPLAYS MOUNTED TO ALUMINUM

When mounting year specific aluminum panel, cut an opening into the dashboard if
necessary and secure the entire panel with the instrumentation using the appropriate mounting
hardware. Some panels are set into the front of the dash while others are installed from the rear
of the dash. The exact mounting configuration will depend on what year car and panel you are
installing.
MOUNTING SINGLE LENS SYSTEMS

Your DAKOTA DIGITAL single lens system will come to you with a single plexiglass lens
and instrumentation that is mounted in an aluminum case. The lens and the instrumentation
have corresponding mounting holes. After you have affixed the mounting studs of your choice
to the backside of your dash, the lens piece should be slid over the studs followed by the display
system. The lens can be secured with either washers and nuts, or by a bead of RTV around the
back side of the lens and case. If RTV is used, the system will need to be held in place until it
has had time to cure. The lens should be tight against the aluminum display case. MOUNTING KITS INTO ORIGINAL DASHES

When installing the display system into the original bezel, several steps must be taken to
prepare the bezel. The first is to remove the cluster from the dashboard and all instrumentation
from the bezel. You should essentially be left with a bare chrome or metal bezel. Remove all
felt inserts from the back side of the bezel that sit between the lens and the chrome.
55-56 Chevy car chrome bezel shown with lens and display opening outlines.


Next, take the supplied lens, with the lettering facing the front of the dash and place it in
the chrome bezel. Lay a bead of RTV around the back side of the lens to secure it in place.
After the RTV has cured, the display panel is ready to be placed on the bezel. If studs were
supplied with the panel, screw them into the bezel and place a nut on them before placing the
display system on it.

Be very careful not to hit the displays against anything as they are glass and will break.
Adjust the height of the panel so that the glass displays are 1/8" away from the front lens.
Applying a lock washer and nut to the studs behind the display panel, secure the display panel
to the bezel. If screws were provided with the panel, secure them through the display panel and
into the bezel. No additional holes should need to be drilled. All holes in the display systems
are pre-drilled at the factory.

CONTROL BOX

Once the display panel is in place, mount the control box within the connecting cable's
distance (approximately 3 feet) and secure to the underside of the dashboard. This case does
not have to be mounted to metal, but by doing so you will provide a better ground to the control
box. When connecting the display cable to the unit, be very sure to pay attention to the "up"
side of the connector. Align the connector in the socket and press firmly into the control box.
The connector locks will secure the connector. Fig. 3 Instruments and features found in STR3C display systems
(55-56 Chevrolet shown)

SPEEDOMETER CONNECTION

The speedometer sender is connected to the transmission using the short adapter cable
supplied with the DAKOTA DIGITAL system. The cable supplied will typically be set up for use
with a GM transmission. GM transmissions use one cable and Ford and Chrysler use another.
Different cables are available from Dakota Digital. For 700-R4 transmissions with an internal
4000 pulse per mile generator (and no place to connect a speedometer cable) the terminals on
the plug in the transmission can be connected directly to the control box. The polarity of the
wires is not important. One wire connects to the terminal market "SPEED" and the other
connects to the "GROUND" terminal. Both wires should be connected directly to the control box
to eliminate any grounding problems causing erratic speed readings. Some newer GM
transmissions have an internal speed generator designed for use with anti-lock brake systems
(ABS). This has a high frequency signal that must pass through a speed buffer before it can be
used by the speedometer, cruise control, or ECM. This buffer can be purchased from Dakota
Digital if the vehicle is not equipped with one.

Some vehicles equipped with computer controlled fuel injection systems have a speed
signal already available in the wiring harness. Your Dakota Digital display system can use
either a 8000 pulse per mile or 4000 pulse per mile speed signal. To determine the wire
location and color