Tips needed for Lighter removal

I have a '77 LTD II. The inside of the cigarette lighter is completely rusted. Can anyone advise me the best way to remove it? Will I have to remove the radio?

If you are talking about the housing that is attached to the dash(which I am hoping for-if you can't remove the lighter itself, you may have bigger issues ), it is easier to remove with the radio out but not impossible with it installed. The lighter housing is a two-piece design and the outer piece resides on the inner side of the dash whereas the outer piece is where you push-in the heater element resides on the passenger side of the lower dash panel(I realize you probably already know this). They basically thread together due to threads being formed in both halves. You will need to reach behind the lower dash panel and remove the center (+) terminal(place tape over the loose connector-it has battery power at all times) and the female spade (-) terminal from the outer halve of the lighter housing. You now have to grasp the outer halve(behind the lower dash panel) with your hand or pliers(BE careful, they are easily fubar'd) the inner part of the lighter housing (on the passenger side of the lower dash panel) may be able to be unscrewed with just a finger placed in the socket while turning the inner halve, if not you may have to grasp the socket's trim ring with a pair of pliers while turning the inner halve. This process WILL yield back pain, sore and scratched arms/hands as well as a various assortment and/or combinations of curse words(it will make you feel better). Hope this helps.

You are more than welcome, those instructions are from my "foggy" memory, it has been a while since my last lighter removal. I will double check my other dashes to be absolutely sure my instructions are correct.