1988 Mondial A/C Question

As part of an overall A/C overhaul, among other things, I was going to replace the expansion valve. Is this accessible through the air vent outlets on the dash where the evaporator is, or does the whole climate control system need to be worked on from under the dash, which looks like a daunting job with the odds of breaking something pretty high. Any advice from someone who has done this?

Also, is there some special thread sealer necessary for the various connections and fittings for what is now a 134a coverted system?

 

I am told that it can not be accessed from the vent area, must go in from underneath the dash and probably dismantle the whole climate control box. With all the plastic, and the agge, this looks like a bad idea. Maybe an acess panel on the bottom of the plastic box comes out, I can't tell, mine has sealer on the seams, hard to see how to dismantle.

Surely someone has replaced their expansion valve in the late model Mondial and can explain how to do this?

I flushed and back-flushed all the lines to and from the evaporator, with a new compressor and condensor, all works fine. It does bug me that I couldn't get in there...

 

Did get an email in response to this question, suggesting that the whole climate box does need to come out, no easy way to get at the expansion valve.

Thanks Ricambi for the clarity, I have and will continue to buy parts from you as a result of your help (I do wear your baseball cap provided with an older some years ago, need another as it is now covered in grease from all my Ferrari wrenching!

 

Sanden SD508
Model #S9519
Serial number of new one: 0403101680

Sourced from a/c supply place in Round Rock, Texas

About $300