I have a 68 running a 350 / 350. has anyone put a cruise contol system in? what unit did you use and where did you get it? taking a long cruise this summer and having this would make the trip alot easier.

About 6 years ago, I put a Dakota Digital aftermarket unit in my 1940 street rod (350/700R4) and it has been flawless since. It was very easy to install.

I have one in my 69, had it for 5years or so trouble free and works great. Easy to hide or not hide, but is a small unit.

Made by AUDIOVOX and it is the universal model runs around $95.00 and takes about 3 to 4 hours to install.

All you want on ebay or google Audiovox universla cruise control.

thanks...you are alot of help.

great ...i that helps alot.

went online to look at it. did you use the dash control or the turn signal control? i wonder how much work it is to install the turn signal control?

I wonder how much work it is to install the turn signal control?

I didn't look for a picture but some of the stalk controllers either replaced the original turn signal stalk or piggy backed on the existing one. With either one I would rather try and get the wires going down inside the column and not tied to the outside.
When I installed cruise controls years ago, the ones that replaced the stalk to get the wires inside the column required the plastic connector housing to be removed, fishing the wires down inside the column with them exiting by the original factory turn signal wires and then putting the connector pins back into the plastic plug housing (and making sure the wires were in the correct order and keyed right). I used some thin steel wire fished up from the bottom of the column and then once I worked the wire out by the turn signal stalk I taped the cruise control wires to the wire and then pulled them back down and through the column. I also taped them in a fashion so it was a slim as I could make it by staggering the pins on top of each other. It made it easier to get it through the inside of the column this way.

I also installed the ones with control boxes and put them either on top of the center console or did custom work and flush mounted them for a cleaner look.

Jim

John I used the small key pad that comes with the unit and for a reason, you can make an "L" bracket that can be mounted with no cutting or drilling of anything, off the bottom of the dash bezel and or it can be sticky mounted with a 1/4" hole through the bezel and than mount on the bezel. I am not even sure the lever mount works with the Gen 2 or Gen 3. But my pad is barley visiable on the left side of the steering column an I reach it fine. If you have a built engine with low Vacuum you will need a vac tank if you stock or not to radical it should be fine. Mine is a 454 crate with stock cam and it has no problems.

Dakota Digital makes great products! recommend them to all!

I worked in an auto center part time from 85-90 or so and installed hundreds of cruise controls in every vehicle imaginable. These were made by Dana. I would definitely reccomend the type with the magnetic pickup from the drive shaft for your older Elky. They have (had) a purple 'brain' (control box) that has adjustments for the low pick up speed etc. Easy to install with wires and vacuum lines tucked neatly in a couple of hours. I never liked the newer electronic models that use a tach signal for the pickup. I am a believer that poor tach signal is the root of a lot of problems on GM's since the 'all electronic' age in vehicles began.

Looks like others here have experience with different products that work. Good luck!
I still haven't had my Caballero on the highway to see if the factory cruise still works.

Randy

I think you're going to find almost all the aftermarket cruise controls require a VSS (vehicle speed sensor) wire.....if you don't have a computer you don't have a VSS.

I haven;t been able to find an aftr market usint that uses a tach signal in over 5 years, so I suspect you may be down to using the drive shaft magnets.

Personally I've never had a whiole lot of luck with them, but I know a some people who have.

This is the alternative to the magnets I used on the last couple of aftermarket units I did. 5 Years on the oldent one so far and no problems.

http://store.fastcommerce.com/bought4less/prod-ff80808116f363070116f369f26d0179.html

If your car was not born with VS or VSS signal than you must use the magnet type avoid the tach signal type the surge and don't work as good on older cars, they did no for me. The Audiovox is small easy unit that uses simple dip swithes for set up and drive shaft magnet, small easy touch pad for the dash with easy wiring all set up. If you don't want to see the unit you can hide it easy. I found it was easy for me to leave it in plain site in side a beauty cover tank and every one thinks it is a vacuum tank.
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/17995/2059565670101581122S600x600Q85.jpg

Speaking of how to get the vehicle speed through either a VSS wire or magnets I wonder if Dakota Digital sells something that would go onto the speedometer cable ?. On the couple of dashes I put in from them to get a signal for the speedometer they have a signal generator that bolts into where the old original speedometer cable was at on the tranny. It has two wires coming out of it and pulses so many times per mile. It is not a feed through design but I wonder if they or someone else might have such a part but not widely advertised ?.

Jim

".......Speaking of how to get the vehicle speed through either a VSS wire or magnets I wonder if Dakota Digital sells something that would go onto the speedometer cable ?....... "

I guess nobody clicked on the link I posted above. :poke:

http://store.fastcommerce.com/bought4less/prod-ff80808116f363070116f369f26d0179.html

I've installed several Dakota Digital units and they come with the pulse generator (vss) that screws on to the tranny and the speedo cable back on to it.
Autometer speedo doesn't come with it but is sold separately for about $75.00.

Biggest difference on this hole thing, are you installing a cruise control only or a complete gauge set and cruise, if so than PRICE steps in ! I am sure Dakota is better and makes sense if your changing other items. But the Audiovox for just a simple cruise control is under $100.00 and I am guessing the Dakota is not!! If i were changing gauges and bezel than I am doing the Dakota!

Thanks guys. good stuff. went to the site and will probably go with the dakota digital unit. still open to feedback and ideas however. looks like they sell them on ebay. any ideas on where to buy one cheaper......yes i am cheap.

Hi, I've been a spectator for a while and thought I'd join in.
The Electric servo cruise control that Dakota Digital sells is the same one sold at Air and Sound. I found them a couple of years ago. Great folks. and better prices.
You can find them on the net. Their website is bought4less.com they have the correct looking blinker arm and speedometer speed signal.

Hi, I've been a spectator for a while and thought I'd join in.
The Electric servo cruise control that Dakota Digital sells is the same one sold at Air and Sound. I found them a couple of years ago. Great folks. and better prices.
You can find them on the net. Their website is bought4less.com they have the correct looking blinker arm and speedometer speed signal.


Just went to their sight and looked around. They are cheaper for just the unit but DD doesn't even sell it that way. Theirs comes with the turn signal stalk and the vss adapter.

Air Sound is higher once you add the stalk and vss.

My Elky project has the old style cruise. It worked before, but I'm wondering if the unit up front (servo or whatever it's called) is available anywhere it it's NFG (?) It was used on many GM cars. There was also an aftermarket CC that used that unit for interfacing into a later cruise control, but haven't seen it in years.

Bill if you're talking about the units that only have a single button (drive to desired speed and set, with no resume, coast or tap up functions and the unit mounted on the inner fender(called a transducer) )with a speedomerter cable going in and one going out, yes the transducers are still available rebuilt from most parts stores or Rockauto.

The transducers run around $75 plus core.

Just went to their sight and looked around. They are cheaper for just the unit but DD doesn't even sell it that way. Theirs comes with the turn signal stalk and the vss adapter.

Air Sound is higher once you add the stalk and vss.

You are right, Air and Sound is $5 higher. :shocked2: