MAN#650274A
1952-53 Ford Car
Dakota Digital Gauge Installation
This sheet covers the installation of the Dakota Digital gauge kit into the original cluster.
1. Remove the cluster from the vehicle.
2. From the back of the cluster, pry open the tabs that hold the bezel to
the rear can. A side cutters works well for this. If they are not bent
completely straight, you can use a small flat screwdriver to pop the
bezel off. Leaving the tabs slightly bent helps to re-crimp them. The
tabs along the flat bottom do not need to be opened up to separate the
two pieces.
3. Remove the screws holding the 5 gauges to the rear can and set the
gauges aside. Remove the gauge separator panel and glass lens from
the bezel, there is a new lens attached to the Dakota Digital system.
4. The three indicator light tubes
(red arrows at left) will need to be
removed. Do this by bending up one
or both of the retaining tabs from the
rear of the can (shown at right).
5. The two light deflectors (yellow arrows
at left) also need to be removed. This can
be done by bending back and forth until
they break off (shown at right).
It is also recommended to remove any
loose paint that may flake off.
