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In fact, I just did it this past weekend. There's only two vacuum lines that go to the switch. Unless you have really large hands, you can unscrew the 5 screws that hold the driver's side lower dash pad in place, pull the top of the lower dash pad a little forward and then down (on mine you don't even have to drop the steering column), and you can access the switch.
Many of the part houses today have junk for parts. I buy most of my parts from Dr. Rebuild and have never had a problem with fit, quality, or finish. They are never the cheapest but usually the best. I would rather pay a buck or two more and get a quality part that fits than some of the other junk that is out there. Paragon also has good stuff. I have never returned a part to either of these 2 parts supliers.
That is more than I can say for Corvette America, Eckler's, Mid America, and ZIP.
That is the same way I did it, but I did remove my air vent from behind the dash, that helped alot also. No need to remove the dash pad or deal with the column at all. And I have large hands.