69-72 Parking Brake Assembly Removal

[drbeeper17]

I recently purchased a 67 short bed chassis / 69 cab and am in the process of restoring and modifying it. Since the cab is a 69, it has the foot parking brake assembly. The cab is completely stripped down and want to paint the interior, but I can't figure out how to remove the emergency brake assembly. It appears to be a single piece of steel that runs from the firewall to the dash. Since the studs going into the firewall appear to be either pressed in or welded in, it doesn't seem that it is possible to remove the assembly because you can't angle it.

I've tried to search this forum but could not find an answer. Does anyone have any insight as to how to remove the parking brake assembly? I tried hitting the studs from the engine compartment to 'un-press' fit them from the assembly, but it did not work. If I hit any harder, I risk denting the dash where the assembly bolts to. I don't want to unbolt the bottom of the dash, because the probability is high that the bolts will break off and will be a PITA to remove them. Any help would be appreciated.