removing radio from 2000 protege

ok, how do I get to the radio/cubby hole to remove it ? I pried off the ring around the radio, heater A/C, vent and disconnected the emergency flasher connector. Seems that all the heater/ AC wiring is keeping it in, I can only pull it out so far. To make matters worse, the genius engineer put the screws holding the htr/ ac stuff on the backside .... and all the mechanical linkages are attatched to the htr/ac assembly. I really don't want to disassemble the whole dash in vain to try and get to it.

On the left and right sides of the black trim around the stereo are small cover plates that cover the holes used to remove the stereo. The covers pop off with a screwdriver. Get a radio installation tool (couple bucks at walmart or an autoparts store) and remove the radio. The tool is shaped like a metal U and has barbs on each side. You slide it into the hole, push outward on both tools, then pull out the radio.

thanks .... I already got it out though