Dash disassembly for evaporator & expansion valve access

[The Dark Side of Will]

Are there any how-to's for dash/center stack disassembly that don't rely on photos hosted on Photobucket?

My AC has a leak which the leak detector says is inside the evaporator housing.
I've previously taken the center stack down far enough to access the recirc flapper motors, as well as replacing the heater core.

However, I don't know the next step toward accessing the evaporator and expansion valve.

[MrBurgundy]

If you're using chrome, they made an extension that bypasses photobuckets bullshit, so you can still see PB hosted pics.

[ELVA164]

You can reach it by removing the glove box, then the side panel to the left of the glove box. Dash can stay in.

[The Dark Side of Will]

If you're using chrome, they made an extension that bypasses photobuckets bullshit, so you can still see PB hosted pics.

Ok, I downloaded one. What's the most recommended tutorial?

I could just go straight to the R134 conversion thread, I guess.

[jeffnhiscars]

I wouldnt suggest ordering parts until you have removed the glove box and plastic covers to get access to the expansion valve, then rechecked for leaks. Those 2 rubber hoses may be leaking as well especially if you are running r134a

[The Dark Side of Will]

I'm not running anything right now because it leaks. The air con hasn't worked since I bought the car (2012?)
Plan to run a drop-in replacement for R12.

[jeffnhiscars]

After 5 years w an "open" system you'll be very lucky if it's just a leak repair.

[The Dark Side of Will]

I'd worked on it summer last year before I went to Afghanistan for a year. The compressor was making noises then. I installed a new compressor since I've been back, but the system wouldn't hold vacuum. Blew a few psi of refrigerant into it and then went to work with the leak detector. That only lit up around the evap housing. I've done this before, just not on an E30.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Leak checker says leak coming from vicinity of expansion valve.
Replace o-rings and reseal.
Leak checker still says vicinity of diaphragm end of expansion valve... D-oh. New expansion valve on the way.

[jeffnhiscars]

How did this work out ?

[The Dark Side of Will]

Just got the new expansion valve in today. Couldn't pull system down to 30 inches of vacuum... it stopped around 29.3ish. Currently sitting valved off to see if the vacuum leaks out.

Leak checking with the R12 replacement costs us a can every time it doesn't work. It's ~$8/can, so not a big deal, but no sense wasting it if we can figure out if there's a gross leak with the vacuum pump.