'65 fintail steering column removal?

[Hecke-ster]

OK friends,

I am trying now to remove the steering column from my 190D. Today, with the help of a friend, we got most of the required bolts out, but we were held up by the mystery of the strap which holds the column in place right under the dash.

There are no bolts or obvious places to unloosen this strap, and it's clearly not going to come out without this strap coming off. Does anybody have any experience with these? Will I need to pull out the speedo/gauges assembly in order to get in at the bolts holding it in? The fasteners seem to be right behind the dash-speedo and gauges.

(Many thanks to Brandon today also, who came up and helped me tinker around for some fun!)

[cth350]

Yep, pull the cluster.

You've got the key assembly out already? -CTH

[Hecke-ster]

Nope, haven't pulled the key lock out yet. Will that need to come out also?

How far will the speedo cluster come out? Will it have some clearance to come out a ways, considering all the wires and temp-gauge tube attachements on the back of it?

Thanks!