anyone know how to safely remove the trim around the radio and the shifter? those two big square pieces.

 

any idea of what you will be replacing it with. I have seen some nice Carbon Fiber ones on eBay that I'm thinking about for my caliber.

 

I just removed mine this past weekend. I had to replace the factory stereo with my aftermarket one and of course install the amps and subs. Both are just popped in using clips. Take the trim removal tool or a flat head screw driver and pry up on the shifter cover. It comes out pretty easily. The trim around the dash is the same way, however the trim around the stereo needs to be taken out bottom first the top has aligning clips in it and it will need to be lifted out and up from the bottom. Very easy to do, I had mine out and in in about 10 minutes.