How do you go about taking the whole thing off, how do you get the shifter cover off? I have the auto that doesnt screw off.

 

i'm trying to remember. the shift **** i think is held on with a rod that goes down the length of the tube. the reason why i dont remember is because i broke the rod a very long time ago. anyways the shift **** itself is held on the end of the tube with an external snap ring if your have the pliers for that great ,otherwise you can try to pry it off with a screwdriver but you might break the snap ring. PM me and i will tell you the real reason why i broke the rod in the first place.

 

the shifter **** has a horshoe shaped pin at the front side facing the radio.. you can pry it out with a flat head screwdriver but be careful!! there under pressure and can easily shoot out and they are hard to find. then the shifter pulls straight up and off.

 

okay.. that explains the shifter. whats the next step in getting the center console out?? cause mines gotta come out so I can put carpeting in.

 

Sorry trying to remember there is a couple of screws in the console/glove box and there are 2 screws one on either side of the console outside of the radio. You might have to remove the under dash panels its just 4 screws on the edge and 1 or 2 screws in the back it might make it easier to see the screws on the outside of the console better. I dont remember but you can probably get away with just removing the screws that hold the a/c controls and just let it hang. You are going to have to remove the radio be careful of the clip that holds the harness to the radio they can get brittle, and dont forget to take the harness off the trunk release and if you have power windows to remove the wires from those switches as well. I think there is also a bar underneath the radio and under the shifter plate that has bolts in it as well. If you lost the snap ring the autoparts store should have one. If its bent you can bend it back but not to much the ring is spring steel, very brittle stuff. Just remember to go slow should be no problems. Let us know how it goes.

 

open up the console compartment and remove the carpet. there should be two bolts, undo them.

now onto the shifter, take the black button out, as other people have said , there will be a snap ring, some needle nose pliars should be able to get it out. after you get it out pull off the shifter grip and unscrew the torqs in the shifter plate, some will be dummies.

get a philips head screwdriver and unscrew the grip for the E-brake, then slide it off.

now up onto the heater/radio cover. take off those torq screws and behind will show where the heater/radio are hooked up to. idr the size but its a smaller socket size. after taking them out, just push back the radio and heater controls, they can just sit there.

but now you should be able to lift off the top part of the console.

theres i think 2 more bolts underneath the dash on both sides of the console, take them out.

that's all the bolts so now you just have to maneuver the console out, its a bit hard with the E-brake, i usually pull it up to help.

 

oh yeah i forgot. when taking the shifter plate out remember to disconnect the bulb that goes to the indicator. and like Z28 TPI said, disconnect the hatch/power windows.

with the upper console unbolted you can usually push the buttons up then disconnect them.

 

ok schweeet. yeah ive gotta pull my damn console out and spraypaint it. also i want it out so I can correctly install my carpeting. I have a penchant for breaking parts and snapping/losing pieces so ill be sure to post an update once I get it all out. and im sure im going to be looking for replacement crap afterwords.... oh and another lil question... I have spraypainted my center console and it bubbled and looked like an abortion... whats the best route to follow as far as redoing it? should i sand it all off and try again or should i just sand lightly and paint over smooth paint? or try to remove it with a chemical paint remover? thanks in advance

 

ummm no sanding at all....i did the dash in my 89 caprice cause it turned like a brownish color from the gray it used to be. All i did was scrub it down nice and good with a car washing mit and soap and water. Let it dry nice and good. Then use a prep wipe or something similar. Then make sure you use interior paint. I personally like Dupilcolor and VHT paint brands but thats just me. Then just paint in light coats and it will come out great. The dash in the 89 caprice was painted eh idk 3 yrs ago and it still sits out back in the sun and it still looks just like new. i think its starting to crack around the heater ducts now tho :-(...tooo many projects going on....lol....either way follow those steps and you should be good

 

i second what mtwlkn122 said. no sanding and defintely no chemical strippers unless you like the glob of plastic mass look lol. there is a rough finish and if you sand it, it will come off.