APPLICATION:  
My car is a 1996 V-6.  I believe the pillars are identical from '94 on.   

TOOLS REQUIRED:  
For this modification you need usual auto mechanical tools plus a good soldiering iron and some electrical crimp pliers.   

TIME REQUIRED:
I worked at this modification a little here and a little there over several weeks.  My best guess is that it took about six hours to install the pod and wire the gages. 

COST OF THIS PROJECT: 
The two-unit Pillar gauge pod was $24, a voltmeter gauge $25.95, a water temperature gauge $26.95, a water temperature sending unit (about) $12.00, and miscellaneous wiring and connectors about $15 for a total of $103.90. 

WHERE TO GET THE PARTS:
I purchased the pod and instruments from Summit Racing (1-800-230-3030). 

The sending unit was purchased from a local auto parts store because I forgot to order it from Summit.   

WHY MAKE THIS MODIFICATION?
Factory instruments are not all that accurate.  Besides, the pod looks great. 

WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED:  
A nice look and a more accurate reading on what is going on under the hood. 

PHOTOS:

1.  Pillar post with trim removed

2.  Running the wiring

3.  The gauge pod installed

HOW I COMPLETED THE MODIFICATION:
The first decision is which instruments you want to install and the second is how many.  Pillar pods are available to accommodate from one to three instruments. 

The plastic windshield pillar molding snaps on.  Remove it carefully.  Next, fit the pod to the pillar molding and drill the mounting holes.  Paint the heads of the mounting screws to match your interior and set them aside.  Do not install the instruments yet.  From this point the big challenge is going to be wiring.   

Follow the wiring instructions provided with each instrument.  You are going to have to feed the wiring down the pillar post, behind the dash and through the firewall into the engine compartment.  You can modify the seal around your main wiring loom at the firewall and slip the wires into the engine compartment there.  The job is not easy, but time and patience will get it done.  Consider using four-circuit trailer wire as it makes the job easier.   

What you do not want is to end up having to unbutton everything somewhere down the road because some wiring connection parted.  There are a lot of good electrical connectors on the market.  Some are supposed to be as permanent as a soldiered connection.  I soldiered everything and covered it with electrical shrink-wrap.  Using splice-connectors is a lot easier.  That is a call each person deciding to make this modification must make. 

I am not going to go into the wiring procedure in any detail.  Probably, anyone willing to tackle projects requiring wiring already knows wiring basics.  For anyone that does not, there are many good books and manuals available.  Check out your local library, or contact Motor Books at 1-800-826-6600 or through their web site www.motorbooks.com.   

Once your wiring is in place, drill a hole in the pillar post trim so you can pass the wiring through to the instrument pod.  Pull the wiring through the appropriate instrument openings in the pod and install the pod on the pillar trim.  The instruments press in from the front.  Connect the wires to the instruments and press them in only part way.  Snap the pillar molding with the pod attached back into place.  Get behind the wheel and adjust the instruments so they are centered with the dash, then push them solidly into place. 

Complete the under-the-hood wiring of the instruments according to the manufacturer's instructions.   Then, be sure to make a diagram of how you completed the wiring job including an indication of the color of each wire.