Need help with front dash trim on '93X- Posting here, not getting any response in A/N

[geosnooker2000]

Tryng to install my son's Christmas present today. A Sony HU. The problem I'm having is removing the factory HU. It is the "High-Level Audio System - Page 20" in the orriginal operating guide. As an aside, I believe that comes with an amp in the back right trim in the cargo area, but without a sub-woofer. There is one HU that is higher grade in the Operating Guide, but 2 HUs that are lower.
Here's my problem at this point. The Haynes manual says to remove the HU, you must first remove the instrument cluster trim panel (see Chapter 11). Last night (it was freakin' cold) my son and I.....
1) doubted that it was nessesary.
2) tried to remove the trim panel, but ran into trouble above the steering column, and all the electrical connections you would have to unplug to remove the trim panel
3) went back to trying to remove the Head Unit with 2 pieces of coat hanger.
4) the HU is moving with the trim panel, like it's primarily atatched to that. Not the dash innerds.
5) One of us would hold the trim panel away about 3 or 4 inches (all we could muster without tearing something up) while the other stuck the home-made puller tools into the HU and tried to pull it out. You could actually see the coathangers going into the keeper bracket and colapse inward like it's supposed to, but it just wouldn't budge. We tried it with the panel pulled out that way AND with the panel back in place.

Where are we going wrong?

 

[geosnooker2000]

Ok, after kicking around the site, I dicovered
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...rument+cluster
where in post #1 it is stated that the front dash trim just comes right off. Well how? Does the radio face come off with it? Because the radio face is on the outside of the trim and is BIGGER than the whole in the trim behind it. I'm getting pissed, and about to break something. I keep pulling on the trim, and the radio keeps moving in and out with the trim. I can't pull the radio out with the trim because the trim has to rotate clock-wise to get over the steering column and the radio is prventing it from rotating. AAARRRRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!

 

[glfredrick]

The dash panels do come right off -- after you find all the bolts...

Start by popping off the trim across the lower half. Under that, you'll find bolts.

The radio face is not part of the dash.

I've taken off a ton of these, and I don't recall any special issues in getting them off, hence the lack of detailed instructions.

 

[Noved1987]

its been a long time since i pulled the stock one but is there a border around the HU? this would be a plastic piece for looks only. that might help (IDK just my two cents)

 

[mikeinri]

I did this last year, don't recall doing anything other than using the tool. It's possible that you're not actually releasing the tabs with the coat hanger.

Mike

 

[Potomac30]

I removed my stock radio yesterday using the caveman method. I used a putty knife (to protect the trim panel) and a screwdriver to release the clips on the side of the radio, and using channel-locks inserted into the tape deck, the old unit slid right out. I hope to be a little more delicate on the installation.

 

[geosnooker2000]

We got it out....after going to the Zone and getting the correct tools. Two people reqired. We had flange issues that didn't seem normal, but with bruit force, it came out. I'm starting a new thread over in the Audio/Nav domain with wiring questions. If you can help, please come over there and visit.