mangled evaporator pipe removing expansion valve
 

I lurk here almost every day without logging in; well now I need some encouragement - had a bear of a time getting the big pipe from the evaporator off of the expansion valve (talking about an '81 240d here) - only afterwards read the posts recommending use of a 7/8 flare nut wrench but I think the brass still would have rounded off this was really on there tight. I hope I can still get a good seal - i.e., that I did not crack the copper line - the collar of the pipe still looks good. If I've wrecked it though - and assuming the damage is not up inside the nut - would it be possible to repair the line (i.e., soldering on a "hand-hammered p.o.s." copper patch)?

Hopefully I'll find out soon that this question is philosophical only - had to order a different expansion valve the first one I received has the wrong-sized boring (too small) for the tube in question; found the right one on this site. Thx. -- Ch