Thanks John!

I confess that I'm not desperate to rush in and remove the console, even though I'd like the clock running!   But if it comes to it I will certainly let you know how it goes.

I've had the side carpet pieces out a few times to do some work on the radio, the wash/wipe/delay module and, in fact, the heater control.  I know what you mean about that cable!   

We're off on a long weekend in the old '78 today, to Normandy with the French Corvette Club, staying in Etretat.  It'll be about 1400 miles all told by the time we're back home I think.   Alas, not a great weather forecast.....

piece which has the heater controls. Much much easier, believe me. The screws holding the two 

together weren't all that hard to get to and undo.  Those heater cables are not friendly at all

even if you try and then take the bottom console out separately. I can't even begin to imagine

trying to take the two out together as a unit.  Ugh.  Just ugh.  Unnecessary nightmare stuff in my

opinion.