Console Removal Help - 1978
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 11
From: Greenwich CT
Console Removal Help - 1978
A good friend just acquired a 78 and is attempting to install a new console - upper unit where gauges are located as well as lower unit where shifter is.
Can anyone describe the best method to remove these pieces??
TIA,
Brett
Can anyone describe the best method to remove these pieces??
TIA,
Brett
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
excperted from my tranny swap page 
Disassembling the center console.
Disassembling the center console.
- Remove console side plates. Which are held on with 3 screws on each side. Remove from car set aside in a safe place
- Remove center console. Console is held on by 6 screws, 2 at parking brake cover, 2 attach to the center gauge cluster, and 2 on either side. Note: you may have to remove parking brake cover to gain access to the 2 screws that hold the two pieces together.
- Disconnect all electrical fittings, except those that go to the heater control, which must be removed as a unit. You may opt to not remove the heater control unit and disconnect the vacuum lines – or you may lay the console plate aside with it still connected. For me, I opted to remove the whole center plate – you will see why later.
The heater control is held on with 3 screws; the ground wire for the cigarette lighter will prevent you from removing the center console cover. I was a lazy bastard so I cut the wire. - Remove shifter ball and locknut from the shifter arm. You do not have to remove the shifter arm (Hurst shifter only)
Remove center console cover, set-aside for now. - if you have the original style twin post radio - remove the ***** and then the retaining nuts that are over the shafts - the center cluster can be pulled out without totally removing the radio
- Guage cluster is retained by screws to either side and the top of the plastic bezel - after removing the two screws that attach it to the center console remove these screws and gently pull the gauge cluster away until you can reach behind and disconnect the wiring harness
- disconnect the small light on the top of the center cluster
- gently remove the cluster away from the dash, note there may be a few extraneous wires to still disconnect so dont try to force it until you know you are fully disconnected.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Beautifully said...
be careful with the stiff cable that runs from the heater control to the heater box. On my '79 it fits through a small groove at the bottom of the radio support that is attached to the chassis on the passenger side. I wasn't careful and the cable exerted enough force back onto the center console to crack the plastic just to the side of the heater control.
be careful with the stiff cable that runs from the heater control to the heater box. On my '79 it fits through a small groove at the bottom of the radio support that is attached to the chassis on the passenger side. I wasn't careful and the cable exerted enough force back onto the center console to crack the plastic just to the side of the heater control.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
With a little fiddling you can place the new console without completely removing the center console cover. Just unscrewing everything (leave the heater control attached to the cover) will give you enough play.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Grand Island Nebraska
excperted from my tranny swap page
Disassembling the center console.
Disassembling the center console.
- Remove console side plates. Which are held on with 3 screws on each side. Remove from car set aside in a safe place
- Remove center console. Console is held on by 6 screws, 2 at parking brake cover, 2 attach to the center gauge cluster, and 2 on either side. Note: you may have to remove parking brake cover to gain access to the 2 screws that hold the two pieces together.
- Disconnect all electrical fittings, except those that go to the heater control, which must be removed as a unit. You may opt to not remove the heater control unit and disconnect the vacuum lines – or you may lay the console plate aside with it still connected. For me, I opted to remove the whole center plate – you will see why later.
The heater control is held on with 3 screws; the ground wire for the cigarette lighter will prevent you from removing the center console cover. I was a lazy bastard so I cut the wire. - Remove shifter ball and locknut from the shifter arm. You do not have to remove the shifter arm (Hurst shifter only)
Remove center console cover, set-aside for now. - if you have the original style twin post radio - remove the ***** and then the retaining nuts that are over the shafts - the center cluster can be pulled out without totally removing the radio
- Guage cluster is retained by screws to either side and the top of the plastic bezel - after removing the two screws that attach it to the center console remove these screws and gently pull the gauge cluster away until you can reach behind and disconnect the wiring harness
- disconnect the small light on the top of the center cluster
- gently remove the cluster away from the dash, note there may be a few extraneous wires to still disconnect so dont try to force it until you know you are fully disconnected.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Your friend should purchase the assembly instruction manual (AIM). The AIM shows how the center cluster and console were assembled. Great for putting everything back in.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Upload this page.. it will show you how it comes apart..
Willcox
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=263 (click on supporting document)
Willcox
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=263 (click on supporting document)
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