Sounds stupid, but I don't like the look of the expansion valve coil. The guy who replaced it (like 20 years ago) just made a tangled mess of the coil. The stock installation as shown in the assembly manual looks like a much shorter amount of tubing. The replacement has a lot of tubing too but a neat coil. Regardless of how short it originally was, I'd rather have a neat coil than a messy one no matter how much tubing there's supposed to be. It looks like a simple replacement but I have a question about the "power element bulb" on one end of the tubing. It disappears inside a mess of black insulation where the one tube enters the evaporator core.

The system has been evacuated already so I could replace the POA, so...

My questions are: How does the power element bulb attach to that tube? Will I need to replace the insulation or can the insulation be carefully removed/reused? Is that insulation easy to find? Does the "coil" need to be pulled apart somewhat or can it remain more tightly wound?

If this is too technical for an amateur part-replacer like me, let me know that too and I'll find an A/C guy who knows what he's doing.

Thanks guys.

Ken,
Once you open the system it has to be checked for leaks and evacuated again, in that order. You can remove the bulb by getting a razor blade and slicing the insulation open, if you want to reuse it. If not, you can get the stuff on-line. Try old air products. The bulb is held on by a c-clamp type fastener, and be sure to put it back in the proper position as how it came off. Or as it depicted in the assembly manual. Try old air products for the correct expansion valve as well. Sounds like you have one that has a lot of tubing. My original doesnt have as much as you described. When you get a new one; only un-wind enough tubing which is needed to get the bulb up to the evaporator.
Just remember...check for leaks and pull a good vacuum.

It's not to technical to me, my first job in the AF was refrigeration A/C mechanic.

Thanks John. I'll give it a shot.

So it doesn't hurt of the coil of tubing stays pretty tight? I wonder why the last guy made such a mess of it?

The pic of the expansion valve on the Old Air site, has even MORE tubing. yikes!

No, it wont hurt to keep the excessive amount of coil tidy. Go to the A/C delco site. They have pictures there that might help you out.