1962 Studebaker Hawk Installing a Dakota Digital Cruise Control

[@patrickreilly988]

Pete, This post is 4 years old. I doubt if you see the comments anymore. I want to compliment you on this video. I bought an Ididit steering column over 25 years ago with the cruise switch directional stalk installed. I have been putting off installing the cruise controller. But, I decided this is the year. My 47 Ford 302 powered street rod is up on stands to change transmission oil. I needed to use the drive shaft signal generator that is included in the Dakota kit you installed. The Ididit kit uses a speedometer cable signal generator. My 74 year old speedometer sounds like a cement mixer, so I pulled the cable. I called Rostra, got the part number for the drive shaft sensor kit. I ordered it from Amazon and the Rostra Ididit controller kit from Summit. Thanks again for the excellent instillation video. You quoted 15 hours to install. If I hadn't seen your video, it would take that long. I will be surprised if it takes 10 hours after watching your video......I still have trouble conceiving how you video guys can take the time to make high quality videos. Thanks again!

[@PetesGarage]

I read and reply to every comment. That sounds like a fun project. It ads a ton of time to the actual work. Once you get used to setting up the camera and know the important points to include. it's not too bad. I'm glad this one helped.

[@jbmwoodworks4498]

Math. Yes! One of the first things I tell my students at the beginning of the year is that we are going to use math in the shop. I've had kids tell me they learned more about math in my woodworking class than in in their math class. I don't know about that other than applying it in a real world situation helps them make the connection. Another thing I tell my students is that there is alway more than one way to approach a problem. If I didn't have a calculator handy, or I didn't know the driveshaft diameter, an alternative to using the math would be to wrap a strip of paper around the driveshaft and cut it to length to match the circumference, then fold it in half once, then again, to give you four equal segments. You could then use it as a template to lay out the magnet position. Awesome video as always Pete! Thanks, Bill.

[@PetesGarage]

That is a great idea. I tried that initially, but it was really tight around the driveshaft and I couldn't hold the string right. Thank you for your comment my friend

[@gibbsey9579]

JBM Woodworks. Great tip. Maths has never been my strong point. I blame it on my attitude at the time and the fact that here in Australia we changed over to the metric system when I was in the equivalent of your junior high so I never learnt either system and still switch from one to the other. Ken

[@easytopleez33]

Exactly the way I would do it also!! Keep it simple!!

[@easytopleez33]

Hey Partner, I just installed a Rostra Unit in my 63 Ford Fairlane. You vid was invaluable!! Thank you so much!!

[@PetesGarage]

That's cool, thanks for sharing...glad it helped.

[@sandchar]

That's some good creative work on that bezel. Awesome!

[@PetesGarage]

It worked out well

[@JoelKSLC]

Great video and really like where the owner wanted to mount the cruise switch panel.

[@PetesGarage]

Glad you liked it!

[@rickslock]

Nice install. I especially like the ashtray conversion

[@PetesGarage]

Thank you my friend...gotta have that special touch

[@bobsue3639]

Simpler way to install magnets - us thin construction paper 1 inch wide and make one complete revolution around driveshaft. Cut the paper so the ends of the paper butt up to one another. Take the paper, fold it exactly halfway two times. Where the fold marks are on the paper, highlight them with a permanent marker. Wrap paper around driveshaft and mark driveshaft where the 4 marks are and voila - no math required.

[@PetesGarage]

Great idea, thank you

[@bobsue3639]

@@PetesGarage YW!

[@SteveP-vm1uc]

My parents has SEARS install one like this when I was a kid. Same magnet on the drive shaft and all. It worked until it saw a winter in Rochester.

[@PetesGarage]

Wow...that's awesome!

[@designsinorbit]

Thanks for the help. Question- do you know what size loom it took to get all the wires from the box to your firewall?

[@PetesGarage]

I think it was 1"

[@frenius]

Wrap a tape measure around the drive shaft and divide by 4.

[@PetesGarage]

That will work

[@kizzamate]

Hey mate do we need a clutch switch if it’s a manual? What would happen if you pressed the clutch while cruise was on? Or changed gears

[@PetesGarage]

Yes, if you press the clutch the engine will speed up

[@adameriksson6921]

Do they make a kit so I can hook it up to a tach wire on my alternator?

[@PetesGarage]

The tach wire does not go to the alternator

[@adameriksson6921]

@@PetesGarage I have an alternator with a tach wire. I was wondering if theres a way I could use that instead of the magnets?

[@PetesGarage]

The instructions are pretty good, lots of wiring diagram options

[@adameriksson6921]

@@PetesGarage ok thank you. Trying to figure out if it'll work on my 93 Cummins. It has wiring for a tach coming from a device on the harmonic balancer that might work.

[@PetesGarage]

That might work

[@MohamedHamdy-sl6ti]

could it be installed in manual car ? lada 1995

[@PetesGarage]

Yes

[@cipriansofineti346]

I'm so glad I found this video, I don't know how to thank you! please, some advice, I want to install this cruise control but I do NOT want to use that speed sensor, I don't need it to maintain a constant speed uphill or downhill, I live in the countryside anyway with flat roads. Can this device work without that coil? Can it be canceled somehow? Thank you in advance, best regards from Europe!

[@PetesGarage]

The speed sensor is required. It tells the system how fast the car is going and how to adjust.

[@cipriansofineti346]

@@PetesGarage well, my car is a FWD , would be a pretty damn job to fit those magnets , the driveshafts are thinny and moving up/down alot depending on the road.

[@PetesGarage]

You could be creative an mount them near the front wheel bearing like modern day anti lock sensors

[@cipriansofineti346]

@@PetesGarage its really difficult there, as I see the coil is real bulky. I'd rather look to the gearbox drive shaft flanges.

[@PetesGarage]

That's a good idea

[@DouglasDouglas-wk2ob]

What if you don’t have a tachometer? 🤔

[@PetesGarage]

You can still hook it to the coil

[@DouglasDouglas-wk2ob]

@@PetesGarage thanks for the quick reply…. negative coil terminal, got it thanks. Also; Dakota Digital says to hook up IGN/ACC (bayonet connector) to fuse panel. Is there any reason I can’t hook up to the ACC post of the ignition switch? 🤔 (1966 Ford Thunderbird) Not a fan of electrical work. 😣

[@PetesGarage]

Sure, you can hook it up that way

[@jasonk8734]

Ditch the magnets.. get the optional signal generator

[@PetesGarage]

That's an option

[@easytopleez33]

Nice install, unless your a smoker. I'm guessing the owner is not. LOL

[@PetesGarage]

Thanks my friend. He is not, if he were I would use a different spot.

[@larryhutchens7593]

You are making the math a bit too hard. One method: calculate the circumference of the driveshaft & divide by 4. Another: Use a carpenters flexible tape (the type that rolls back into a small case). Wrap the tape tightly around the driveshaft & measure using the 1" mark as an indicator to get a numerical reading off the tape. Subtract 1" from the measurement to get the exact circumference. When using this method in layout work the term is "burn an inch". Again divide by 4. However you do it the layout process is going to be difficult. Doing it in metric will be easier because all the math answers will be in digital rather than some odd variation of 1/64", 1/32", 1/16" & so on. Also, if one of these magnets falls off the system will shut down. Been there, had it happen.

[@PetesGarage]

Thanks Larry

[@larryhutchens7593]

@@PetesGarage Forgot to say thanks for the video. I'm probably going to be faced with installing one of those on my restored class B Dodge camper van & you answered a lot of questions about the throttle connection. My van has a factory cruise but it is erratic. Sometimes works & sometimes doesn't. Most times it loses about 5 mph from the set speed. I have thoroughly diagnosed the electrical side & that part is solid. Problem has to be in the actuator. I have located 2 others & they have different problems and are equally erratic. Age I guess. Again thanks for the video. From what you showed there seem to be enough parts in the kit to attach the unit to my vehicle.

[@PetesGarage]

Good luck Larry, thank you

[@syrthdr09sybr34]

Way too much unnecessary math here. It's simple just measure the diameter of the shaft and divide that by four.

[@PetesGarage]

Thanks