Thanks Pete, I'll give the WD40 & lithium grease cocktail a try. I have heard about the cable luber... can't recall where, maybe the ZTherapy video. I already have the cable ends loose; I was preparing to pull the console when I realized how entwined the choke cables are through the dash. I was dreading removing them for cleaning when I found this method.

Well, 12 hours in and no WD40 has emerged from my choke lever end. I also squirted in some 3-in-1 oil just before I went to bed in the hopes that the heavier oil would "hydraulically" push the WD40 and/or the gunk through & out. I don't think there's enough of an oil column to achieve this, though.

My problem is I have the original factory cables with the little accordion boots. This prevents the cable luber from working so I can't force in the WD40. I used a few inches of fuel line instead of the drinking straws Daniel had suggested. I topped off the fuel lines with WD40 at least half a dozen times last night so hopefully it's working its way down and not just evaporating. If anyone has other ideas I'd welcome them.

The PO of my car thought he had heard that the choke handles break easily, so he was always very careful with it. Of course it's not the handle that breaks it's the console, but I think his caution has helped keep the console in one piece, despite the choke lever being extremely high effort. I estimate it takes 8-10lb of force to move the lever. The threads under the console look a little blown out, but nothing's given up yet - pretty incredible.

The boots should come off and go back on easily. Take 'em off.