easier to put 4 spd pedals in with dash in or out?

Lower the column... heck it's three more bolts and a drift pin to pull it out...

I say get it totally out of the way.

You're right. I do remember pulling the column totally out, now that you mention it. I rememer because I ended up using a pushrod to tap the pin out of the coupler bnecause I couldn't find my punch that was the right size..