Any time you do your own installation you run the risk of breaking things. Trust me, I never like factory audio systems and refuse to pay someone else to do replace them for me. So don't feel too bad, most cars are not built to be taken apart.

I doubt many people have been in the dash of an HCH, but is there any chance you could take some pictures of the trouble area and post them up? Maybe someone will have an idea of what to do if we can get a good look. And if not, at least it might save a few dozen other people the same problem if they know what they're getting into ahead of time.

**EDIT**

Just realized we're talking about a first gen, not second gen HCH. There might be some better onfo on another general Civic forum on the net that would apply.