Swapping metal components on M14 stock?

[Dakota]

I did a search through the forum and couldn't find an answer so here goes...
I have a Springfield M1A, I recently picked up a N.O.S. wood stock to swap over.
The new stock is "raw" with no metal components.
My descriptions may be non-technical, so bear with me.
My main questions are..
1. Can I re-use the front metal guard, "where the receiver group clips/hooks onto the front of the stock", it seems to me that I'd have to pry/bend it pretty good to get it off, I don't want to distort it too bad.
2. If I do get it off, what is the best way to re-attach it?
3. The main steel insert in the stock is attached from the side with two screws, and two prongs bent over at the front. I am just going to pry the prongs up as little as possible, and then reinstall?

Any help would be appreciated, or even a link to some pictures would be great.
Thanks,  Mike

[Old Dog]

I've also bought a nice "match" stock for an M1A (but done nothing with it other than buy the stuff to get it ready).

If your donor stock is trash its not to hard to remove the front ferrule from the stock.  Use a small screw driver to slightly pry of on the edges on the inside, not the outside.  The use a slightly larger common screw driver and a small hammer to tap the piece loose/off the front of the stock.  When i put mine on the new stock I'll epoxy it on.

Once you unscrew the outside screws on the magazine well reinforcing piece you should be able to pinch it inwards a little by hand and twist it down/forward to remove it from the stock.  I dont' think you'll have to pry on the hooks at the front of the mag. well.

Go ahead and do all your wood/stock finishing prior to putting the new metal on.

Good luck.

[Fred]

Once you unscrew the outside screws on the magazine well reinforcing piece you should be able to pinch it inwards a little by hand and twist it down/forward to remove it from the stock.  I dont' think you'll have to pry on the hooks at the front of the mag. well.

    You can buy a special screwdriver for those screws - or you can take a big common screwdriver at least the width of the two pin holes, and grind a notch in the center of the blade, so that you have two 'pins' sticking out, which will fit the screw heads...

     And OD is correct - the front prongs on the stock liner do not have to be bent.

[Dakota]

Thanks for the info, I was able to loosen the screw on my old stock with a small needle nose, but making a tool from an old screwdriver sounds like a good idea.
I did want to re-use the old stock for a demo/dummy rifle, if I have difficulty taking the ferrule off, maybe I'll just cut the stock right behind it and clean it out.
Epoxy is not something I considered, but is also a good idea.
Thanks guys.