If you’ve heard of Dakota Digital, then you know they provide some of the coolest looking, LED backed gauges and instrument clusters for both cars and trucks. Its latest line of VHX gauges takes what Product Specialist Greg Karpe calls “a digital input with an analog output.” But not everyone wants that digital set of gauges when they restore their classic Chevy or Ford, even though they might have upgraded to a modern overdrive transmission.

Connecting those dots — from transmission to speedometer — has been a battle that many builders have had issues with, especially when going from digital to mechanical. However, Dakota digital has created an electronic cable drive in its ECD-100 conversion box, which takes the electronic, pulse-generated output of the modern 4L60 and 4L80 transmissions and converts to a cable output for classic speedometers.

The benefit of the ECD-100 is that the original speedometer can be retained while providing the much needed overdrive of modern electronic transmissions. With cable adapters for the standard threaded 5/8-inch thread, or the clip-on type connection, the ECD-100 can be mounted nearly anywhere — including the engine compartment. It is a completely sealed unit that will withstand underhood temperatures and moisture, however, care should be exercised when mounting the unit to keep it away from direct heat sources like headers.

For those who have gone the route of the LS swap, one area that has been an issue with the 2008-up swaps is the drive-by-wire throttle. Adding cruise control to a vehicle with this swap has been difficult, but Dakota Digital has made that option a much easier task thanks to its CRC-1000 drive-by-wire cruise control.

Now adding cruise control is a simple task, with a unit that plugs between the connectors to the pedal and utilizes the OBD II port, no adjustments or fine tuning is necessary as the unit is self learning and completely plug-and-play.

These are just a couple of the newest components from Dakota Digital, and barely scratches the surface on its entire inventory of products designed specifically for the custom auto and truck enthusiast. Check out the Dakota Digital website for more information, where you can find clusters, gauges, and much more, including digital temperature controllers for many of today’s aftermarket air conditioning systems like those mentioned above.