The other piece I intend to have reupholstered in vinyl locally is the radio console. So I spent some time taking the console apart and cleaning it up. In addition to the radio, this console is also home to four pull knobs that operate the choke, s-brake test, fan, and hazard lights. The choke knob must be removed from its cable in order to get the console out of the car, so it is not pictured. I began by removing the two knobs that control the radio. The top one pulled off after rotating it counterclockwise and the bottom one just popped off after getting it aligned correctly. The posts on which the knobs sit have grooves that plastic tabs in the knobs' mounting holes slide into.
Behind the knobs sit threaded nuts and washers that mount the dial's posts through the console and hold the radio in place. I used a 9/16" socket to remove the nuts. On the bottom of the console there is a bracket with one small brass bolt that holds the radio unit to the console as well.
With the mechanical fasteners removed I was able to reverse the radio box out of the console. One electrical connection remained, which I labeled and disconnected.
The radio had some grime and gunk inside it after 37 years, so I unscrewed the two small brass bolts in order to remove the radio's silver faceplate. I then cleaned up the plate inside and out, removing as much dirt as I could.
Back at the console there remained the three knobs to remove. Each knob was attached by a small flat-head set-screw. I unscrewed these and then pulled off the knobs. Under each knob was a silver collar that was threaded onto each knob's mounting post. Each collar has two small holes for a special tool to unscrew the collars. Using a pair of thin needle-nose pliers I was able to unscrew the collars and then remove the mechanisms behind the console's face.
With the knobs totally removed I separated the radio console harness from the console. The console's face plate then slid away from the console as well. I will clean the faceplate and may give it a coat of paint so it looks new.
The console body I will send off with the other pieces to be re-covered in new vinyl.
