Removing the heater control/dash panel on a late Griff 500

[The Red Baron]

Winter project underway to re-cover my dash. I've got the dashboard sorted, but how do you remove the lower heater control panel dash bit?

I've got the heater knobs and window switches off, and I think the panel is held on with 2 nuts behind the panel, but can't figure out how to get access.

I'd have done a search on this forum but the search facility is down it seems.

Any help is appreciated.

Cheers.

[Ant.]

It is a case of removing the centre console, you will need to untension the handbrake...

[daveb500]

I managed to undo mine by just removing the window switches but it is very tight.

[Loubaruch]

Ant is correct but in case you have not tackled this before the handbrake adjuster refered to is located at the far end of the handbrake cable up inside the chassis, a bit of a pig in this cold weather. With the adjuster slacked off you can then lift the central whale tail high enough to reach the heater panel nuts. Not my favourite job!

[The Red Baron]

Thanks for the info.

Haven't managed to do it through the holes left by the window switches, so I guess it's going to be the hard way.

Please can someone confirm a couple of things; that the reason for slacking off the handbrake tension is so you can pull the handbrake lever closer to the vertical and therefore allow the centre console to lift higher?

Also, once I've slackened off the handbrake, to be able to lift the whole of the centre console (whale tail) what needs to be undone? I've found two bolts, under the lip of the parcel shelf, but are there any more?

Thanks again to all for their help.

[Ant.]

The Red Baron said:

Thanks for the info.

Haven't managed to do it through the holes left by the window switches, so I guess it's going to be the hard way.

Please can someone confirm a couple of things; that the reason for slacking off the handbrake tension is so you can pull the handbrake lever closer to the vertical and therefore allow the centre console to lift higher?

Also, once I've slackened off the handbrake, to be able to lift the whole of the centre console (whale tail) what needs to be undone? I've found two bolts, under the lip of the parcel shelf, but are there any more?

Thanks again to all for their help.

Yes, the handbrake needs to be near vertical, and if you have found the two 6mm fixings, then that is all...

[dnb]

There were 2 nuts and bolts in each of the fixings on the back of my centre console. The furthest back ones were well hidden behind the carpet.