MG Car Repair: 79 mgb speedometer removal, knurled nuts, speedometers

Question
I am trying to remove the speedometer from my '79 mgb roadster.

Many people and 2 manuals have told be that I'll find 2 knurled nuts and a
squarish u-shaped retainer behind the speedometer. It just ain't so. I cannot
find anything holding it in place.

I did remove the two screws on the back, but that has only freed the guage
inside the housing which is still firmly (and mysteriously) affixed to the
dashboard.

Has anyone out there actually done this?

Please advise, Thanks!

Answer
Hi Jonathan,
ALL MG speedometers are held in by two nuts on two threaded studs attached to the speedo case. a metal strap goes across the back of the speedo on your car and fits over the two studs and normally two knurled nuts hold the strap in place. There is not much room in behind the dash of the 79s so you may need a light and a mirror to locate the nuts. I have seen some that because it was so difficult to access someone just left the strap and nuts off and depended on how tight the case fit into the dash. If you see the studs and there are no nuts on the studs and the strap is missing, just force the case out by hand.
Yes, in the dealership this was done many times a week, every week and some times several times a day.
Howard