is resto heater box without losing charged r12 possible?

[Zeus]

Hello. My 'cuda isnt running, on account of the interior and dash out.  Realized now would be a good time to rebuild the heater/ac box. Does anyone know if it's possible to remove most of the box and rebuild it without removing the evaporator? I want to stick with r12, i already have a fully charged system, and dont want to pay extra of causing someone to haul a coolant machine to my house and suck it out.  Let alone the cost of the r12 refill or 134a retrofit and fill.  I need to get the box apart enough to get some new foam in there and a new heater core.

From looking at the box now, seems like it might be possible if I pull all screws, unsnap those clips on the bottom, but i'm not sure if there's screws on top, and I'm unsure how to get it out of the cylinder shaped matched hole on the upper right side...  but I'm just guessing.  Is anyone familiar if this is possible?

Also, does anyone have a plastic upper vent duct (like the defroster area duct) for sale? i only need the upper peice.

[4 speed fish]

I saw the ac vent on ebay.

[4 speed fish]

Ebay item # 200709126265

[Zeus]

I have that duct, that one runs to the front vents.  I need the one that run to the defroster area on the very top of the dash. Thanks tho!

[72cudamaan]

I think you'd be fighting a lost cause. Even trying to get the clips off the housing
will be a pain without the box on the bench. And I do believe that there are 2 screws
holding the evap to the inside of the box. In the end you'll probably end up
removing the freon anyway. Good luck, let us know how it works out.