How to move gear lever out of the way when removing AC/stereo panel from dashboard?

[AVR2]

This is possibly a very dumb question, but is there any way to shift the gear lever out of "park" in a KJ with the engine switched off?

I'm asking because I want to remove the AC/stereo panel from my dashboard, and when the gear lever is in "park" it obviously restricts access. With a bit of fiddling and care you can squeeze the panel out between the lever and the dash far enough to remove the stereo, but I wondered if that's actually the official way of doing it, or is there some secret to moving the gear lever with the engine off and battery disconnected?

 

[kj924]

Turn the key ahead in the ignition as if you are going to start the vehicle, but don't start it!This will allow you to move the gear shift out of Park, make sure you are on level ground so you don't roll into something .

Oh yeah, foot on brake when doing this, it's a safety interlock when shifting from Park in an automatic vehicle. Emergency brake would be helpful too.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

To shift, you have to hol down the brake, which requires battery power....

Before you start with the project, put the ****** into neutral and pull the parking brake. Then, disconnect battery and start working.

 

[Powerslave]

Yeah, that's what I did, just put the key in run, press Brake pedal, and pull the shifter to 1st and put the parking brake on, release brake pedal...

 

[ChiefRudy]

Put a blanket or towel over the center as well. I moved my ****** shifter to pull my stereo out but when I pulled off the black trim I bumped it off the T-case shifter and put a tiny rub mark on it.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

My KJ is just weird!
All I have to do is push the button on the automatic gear shift lever and pull it down into neutral or all the way into 1st gear. Without the key in the ignition or foot on the brake pedal!

 

[AVR2]

Yeah, that's what I did, just put the key in run, press Brake pedal, and pull the shifter to 1st and put the parking brake on, release brake pedal...

D'oh! Didn't think to shift the lever *before* disconnecting the battery. Thanks!

I've just tried this and of course, you can't remove the key from the ignition with the lever in anything other than "park". Presumably it's safe to disconnect the battery with the key in that first position because the ignition's still off?

 

[HoosierJeeper]

My KJ is just weird!
All I have to do is push the button on the automatic gear shift lever and pull it down into neutral or all the way into 1st gear. Without the key in the ignition or foot on the brake pedal!

Mine's the same way!!!