Heater/AC Controls Bezel

[68rookie]

Is there a recommended way to remove this. I'm getting ready to take mine out.

[sargentrs]

First, brush up on your vocabulary of curse words and wrap your hands in Kevlar. Your hands and forearms will be bruised and bleeding before you're done. This will give you an idea of what you're trying to reach and remove
http://www.fordification.com/tech/AC-cables.htm

Best plan of attack is to remove the glove box, ashtray and radio. Try to get the knobs off of the controls, they're just stuck on there but nearly impossible to remove. There are 2 nuts that hold the bezel to the control bracket mount and sandwich them into the dash. Then there are 2 screws that hold the control bracket to the control bracket mount. The easiest way is to remove the knobs, remove those 2 nuts and slide the bezel off of the face of the dash. Then push everything else back through the dash and out the bottom. However with your AC evap hanging under the dash, that can be a problem. Unbolting the clamps and removing the cables could allow you to pull the control to the side and out the glove box.

The original AC installation is usually done by connecting the cables to the bracket, screwing the bracket to the bracket mount, mounting the bracket mount in the dashboard, sliding the bezel on and tightening the nuts, then installing the knobs. Then connecting the other ends of the cables to the AC evaporator and mounting the AC evap under the dashboard. You can see how removing the AC controls after the fact is going to be a bear.

http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... -incab.jpg

This kinda looks like your register assembly http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... ngon03.jpg

Another diagram that you may find useful http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... ngon02.jpg

[68rookie]

Thanks man, not the answer I was hoping for. I do have pretty good arsenal of curse words!!

[68rookie]

Just to double check, the knobs should come off the levers in the front, dont' want to break anything.

[sargentrs]

Should, yes. Easily? I lucked out and mine came off with a minimum of effort.

[Ranchero50]

Yep, little Allen wrench for the set screws. I thought you could pop the whole assy out the front once the cables were dealt with. Speaking of which, try to remember how they are routed as misrouted cables are the #1 cause of binding controls.

Worst part of our trucks is the lack of space behind the dash...

[sargentrs]

Yep, little Allen wrench for the set screws.

I didn't loosen or remember any set screws. No wonder they were hard to get off. I haven't put it all back in the truck yet so I may have issues when I try to reinstall my knobs

[ddcrim]

The "little knobs" do not just pull off. If you look at the back of one after yanking it off, you will see how the clip works. You
use a small hook or even an allen wrench and pull the catch forward and the knob slides off. The set screw is on the
wiper knob.

[Canonman67]

I had little allen set screws on my heater controls also. My truck is a '70, maybe it depends on the year of manufacture.

[m9452p]

On each of the bumpsides I have owned, and also the heater controls that I've removed in the salvage yards, all have had allen head set screws to hold the knobs on. I don't think the press on knobs went on trucks until 1973.

[m9452p]

But if you don't have the allen wrench, I suppose you could pry them off. May damage the lever or break it off.

[ddcrim]

You guys are right, I was referring to the knobs on my 74. I stand corrected.