just a trick i learned tonight through trial and error for everyone out there. if you want to take out your center console, you have to take off the shift **** because the console will not fit over the panel that has the heater/vent/ac controls on it. well.....i tried for awhile to get the d*** shift **** off, and it was almost impossible. i got the vice grips and a rag, but i was afraid of damaging the leather or trim on the ****. here is the trick: if you unsnap that small piece that has the heater/vent/ac controls on it, and rotate it and tilt it to one side(you might have to manuver the center console a little bit to make room to get it out), you will see about 8 small brass screws on the bottom. six around the ring and 2 on the side. you can take out those screws, and the shift boot and silver trim ring will fall away from that heater control panel, allowing you to take the panel all the way off. you can then take out the center console without removing the shift ****. sorry this post is so long, but hopefully this saves some of you time, and from damaging your shift ****.

 

I just took the silver portion thats around the shifter out, it pops out, then the console pulls away from it when you pull a few screws out.

 

yup... scrafemon (sp?) posted a full step by step with pictures a while back on this topic...

 

but in the how to's it says to take off the shifter ****........and i saw a reply where someone damaged their shift ****