As I poorly described, I guess:

There is a "tube" on the outside of your unit.
Unscrew the tube towards the rear.

Put the inner housing (the element housing) through the hole in the dash.
Behind the dash, screw that tube onto the element housing.

Connect a hot wire to the terminal on the rear of the unit.

Place the element into unit.

Hold your breath while it heats, and then pops out.