BY Ron Ceridono Photography by NICK LICATA & Jason Scudellari

any, many years ago, well before editor Nick Licata got his first skateboard as a kid, one of the additions performance enthusiasts made to their cars was a row of aftermarket gauges hanging below the dashboard. Even though they were often difficult to see mounted near the floor, the general consensus was they were better than factory gauges, which were inaccurate at best and useless at worst. Most factory gauges didn’t react very quickly or have meaningful numbers, making them only slightly better than warning lights that would normally illuminate about the same time some sort of mechanical carnage was taking place. As proof we offer the instruments in our ’69 Chevrolet Camaro.

Apparently, when our base Camaro was new, the decision-makers at GM figured no one looks at gauges anyway, so we’ll save some money and go with just a speedometer, an extra-large gas gauge with warning lights for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and charging system status. (There were several gauge packages available that included such things as a tachometer, clock, oil pressure, temp gauge, and an ammeter, but they were extra-cost options.)

When we decided to upgrade the gauges in the Camaro, we wanted everything contemporary instrumentation had to offer, but we wanted to retain as much of the original dashboard’s styling as possible. We were looking for the best of both worlds and we found it with Dakota Digital’s RTX direct-fit instrument package. It includes two gauges, a speedometer, and tachometer, each in individual CNC-machined housings.

While the RTX analog speedometer and tachometer mimic the look of the original gauges with the engine off, turn the ignition switch and you’re presented with LED illuminated gauges with digital bar graphs that display oil pressure, coolant temperature, voltage, and fuel level. In addition, there are twin TFT (a color-changing, customizable message center) message centers that display a full array of information, such as odometers (a million mile and two trip odometers) with estimated range/miles to empty, eighth- and quarter-mile performance, a clock, plus any of the six main gauge readings can be seen as well. If any expansion modules from the BIM series are in use, their data will also be displayed in the message centers. Of course, there are all the usual indicator lights for turn signals, high beam, plus several more, and other than the speedometer, each analog gauge has a red warning indicator if values fall below a preset level.

Once the stock gauges are removed, installing the RTX assemblies is simple enough; they mount with existing holes in the original instrument housing, the wiring is plug-and-play, and all the necessary senders are included. In our case, at the same time Jason Scudellari handled the instrument panel update, he installed a new dashpad from Classic Industries. Both stock and custom padded dashpads are available with or without accommodations for A/C vents in all the factory colors.

After the RTX instruments are in place, the necessary programming and calibrations are easily done with a push of the same rocker button that allows access to the message senders. The RTX system can also be configured with a mobile app and calibrating the speedometer and fuel level can also be done with a Bluetooth app.

Although the RTX system provides a wealth of information, Dakota Digital also offers BIM Expansion Modules that allow the addition of up to 16 gauges, such as compass heading, altimeter, outside air temp, GPS, as well as engine information from the popular aftermarket fuel injection systems.

Dakota Digital’s RTX instruments really are the best of both worlds. They look right at home in the Camaro’s dash while providing all the accurate information that performance enthusiasts want to see.

3. While it is possible to install the Dakota Digital instruments without disassembling the dash, we removed the cluster to make things easier as we were also planning to install a new Classic Industries dashpad.

5. As our car had factory air, Scudellari removed the large duct that fed the center register in the dash.

7. For a factory look, the new RTX instruments replace the stock lenses and indicator rings with new lenses and matte black aluminum trim rings.

9. The Dakota Digital wiring harness runs through the large opening shown below the speedometer. The two provided screws and nylon shoulder washers secure the speedometer assembly to the housing via the existing holes.

11. The main harness from the control box plugs into the interconnect harness that leads to the speedometer and tachometer.

13. Dakota Digital includes senders for their instruments. They must be used for the gauges to read properly and not damage the control unit.

15. To prevent moisture from entering the connections the wiring harness has weatherproof plugs (this is the temperature sender).

17. All the connections on the control box are clearly labeled, as are the wires to make installation easy.

19. Scudellari found a convenient spot to secure the control and GPS interface above the steering column bracket.

21. This simple looking but necessary item is a new dashpad retainer clip from Classic Industries. We used a new set of six to secure the replacement pad.

23. To make the dash and interior look factory fresh, Classic Industries offers a complete 87-piece interior screw kit (PN SK518).

25. This switch is used to change the display selection, reset readings, and set up the various system parameters. It should be mounted within easy reach of the driver.

26. HDX gauges feature LED lighting that can be adjusted for brightness day or night and there are 30 color options for the needles, sweep color, and TFT display.