Up next THE HOLTHAUS ’ZU | Fabricating the Family Legacy Published on February 24, 2020 Author Chris Hamilton Tags 67-72, Chevy/GMC Trucks, Dakota Digital, diy, how to, install, RTX Gauges, tech, Share article Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Mail 0 Installing Dakota Digital RTX Gauges in’67- ’72 Chevy/GMC Trucks Representing the latest electronic dashboard technology for the street rodder, car and truck enthusiast alike, the RTX system combines modern digital electronics with a traditional look to give the driver up-to-date and accurate information on the operation of your vehicle. Fully lit color needles, backlit color faces and highly visible color TFT message centers are a few features that make the RTX lineup stand out from other aftermarket instrumentation. The RTX system boasts excellent daytime visibility, fully backlit and dimmable for nighttime driving. Monitoring solid state sensors with microprocessor technology and driving precision stepper motors, the RTX dashboard gives the driver unparalleled accuracy. User-customizable display feedback and additional features not typically found on any other brand or type of instrumentation are standard in the RTX system. Digital accuracy and solid-state reliability will give you quality service for miles down the road which includes a limited lifetime warranty on a product engineered and manufactured in the USA. The RTX series is focused on retaining that stock look without sacrificing the late-model features you love. Every effort has been put forth to incorporate OEM design elements regarding the layout, face styling and indicators. A casual glance may dismiss these as original equipment, but once you hit the switch and the LED backlighting comes on in your favorite color scheme, all doubts will be removed. Starting from scratch, CNC machined housings are filled with electronics designed and built in-house, helping Dakota Digital once again raise the bar for aftermarket instrumentation. The high-definition TFT message centers can be fully configured to display just about any piece of information needed. As you’ve come to expect from Dakota Digital, the RTX series utilizes a central control box to make installation and setup as easy as possible. Here are the steps to installing this killer upgrade on your ’67-’72 Chevy/GMC Truck. RTX-67C-PU kit includes universal sender pack, buzzer, switch assembly, two indicator harnesses, main harness, control box and RLC harness. Remove the stock gauges from the dash. Remove the eight screws holding the gauges to the bezel on the back of the system. These screws will be used to secure your RTX system in the stock bezel. Remove the stock gauges, separator plate and lens from the bezel. The only item to be reused is the original front bezel; the other pieces can be set aside. Now is a good time to clean the bezel and remove any dirt or old lens gasket material. Secure the RTX system to the bezel with the eight screws removed from the stock gauges The RTX series is the latest from Dakota Digital, focused on retaining that stock look without sacrificing the late-model features you love. Every effort has been put forth to incorporate OEM design elements regarding the layout, face styling and indicators. A casual glance may dismiss these as original equipment, but once you hit the switch and the LED backlighting comes on in your favorite color scheme, all doubts will be removed. Never open the system or attempt to remove the needles as the calibration of the instrument system could be thrown off. All systems are calibrated and tested before they leave Dakota Digital. The clear lens on the front of the RTX system can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution or common glass cleaners. Use a soft cloth such as a micro-fiber for wiping the lens clean. While the control box contains several connections, the wiring is straightforward. Depending on how many auxiliary functions you want displayed, not every terminal will be used in most applications Connect the provided main harness, clock harness and the buzzer (optional for audio feedback) to the back of the RTX system. Once the display panel is in place, mount the control box within reach of the supplied display cable (approximately 3 feet). Choose a mounting location that will allow you access to wire all of the inputs on either side of the control box. Double sided tape, hook and loop fasteners or screws in the two tabs on the case work fine for securing the control box under the dash. When selecting a mounting location, avoid placing the control module next to or just opposite of the firewall from ignition components, ie: Ignition coil, HEI, etc. Ignition components can emit tremendous amounts of electrical noise, affecting the operation of electrical components which can cause erratic operation. Avoid mounting the control box where it may get wet This system comes with two options for the turn signals. You can have the indicators located in the faceplate of your new RTX display, and/or arrows in your vehicle’s stock locations. To use the new faceplate arrows, follow the wiring instructions found in the main RTX manual. To optionally use the stock locations, do not wire the turn signals to the RTX control box. Instead, use the two provided two-wire harnesses. The harnesses plug directly into the connectors on the back side of your new RTX system: WHITE\GREEN wire to INDICATOR CIRCUIT, WHITE\BLACK wire to CHASSIS GROUND Re-install the cluster into the truck and refer to the main manual for wiring instructions to complete the RTX installation. Be careful not to pinch the wires or tangle them around any moving parts The most common cause of problems with electric gauges and other sensitive vehicle electronics is poor ground connections. The engine block has the highest ground currents of any point in the vehicle. The ignition system, some electric gauge sensors, starter, alternator, etc. all use the engine block for a ground point. Since the alternator is grounded directly to the engine block, all ground currents in the entire vehicle must pass through the engine block while the engine is running. A weak or loose connection can cause many unexpected problems that may be difficult to track down. The engine block should have heavy ground straps to both the chassis and the body. The main negative cable from the battery should be connected directly to the engine block. Reinstall the screws to fully secure the bezel and complete your wire connections. RTX INSTRUMENT SYSTEM FEATURES Digital Full Color TFT display(s) Each of the analog gauges can be displayed as well as additional functions listed below. Mileage readings Million mile odometer Two (A/B) re-settable trip mileage (0-9999.9) Re-settable service mileage (0-9999 countdown) Range (fuel) to empty performance readings High speed recall High RPM recall 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) time ¼ mile time and end speed (trap speed) 1/8 mile time and end speed (trap speed) Hour meter Resettable hours (0-999.9) English/metric conversion Alternate speed and temperature can be displayed in TFT display Built-in Indicators Warning indicators built into the fuel, volt, water, oil and tach gauges Left/right turn signal indicators High beam indicator Check engine indicator Brake warning indicator 4×4 indicator Wait to start indicator Cruise control indicator Gear position indicator with use of Dakota Digital GSS