Removing the console tray most certainly WILL allow you to access the hard lines - I'm guessing this is a little known fact about the car. This cutout helped me greatly save time compared to removal or line work when I did not know about this access. I only learned about this cutout when changing frames-I was cleaning the underbody and I saw it cut out on the underbody as posted below. I thought to myself, damn, I wish I knew about this sooner! This gives you access to the two long holes in the top of the frame, as you can see in your pictures by the bottles of water. You can also see the cover in your picture of the fiberglass-console removed, under the single black plastic line - not sure if that is vac or throttle cable. You can access the lines, break the connections and not kink anything, all without feeling like you're delivering a baby from under the car. You'll still need to go under to unbolt the accumulator, etc. Just remove the tray, pry the access cover up with a screwdriver and seal it back down once work is complete.
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?at...9&d=1507821282