Demon Cluster Change.... Sequence??

I'm working on a '72 Demon, and the gauge cluster must come out to be changed...... It has an auto on the column, and the shift selector is smack in the middle of the road..... I removed the steering wheel & turn signal handle, BUT the nylon selector system inside the bell is hard-wired, and I can find no plug to disconnect it....... SO, what do I do now that it's all apart (aside from clean and recondition it)....... Do I have to drop the steering column down some to get the cluster out????

My '67 Cuda is MUCH easier.......I've done it a number of times without incident.......This Demon is living up to it's namesake.......I've already busted the center dash plate (radio plate), assuming it "snapped" in like a normal old Mopar...... SURPRISE........now I found the nuts behind the air controls.

I really don't want to break anything else here........Can someone please give me a working sequence on how to get this column out of the way so I can work on the gauges???........ Or is there something else I'm missing here?

I can get the dash out of the Cuda without disconnecting any cables or plugs...........Do I have to go in under the dash and disconnect everything first on the Demon??...................................Nightmare.

I'd appreciate the help of any A-Body dash veterans.

Thanks.....................Doc