98 V70 AWD LPT

I've read a lot, think I can fix this but have some fundamental questions.
This is a 98 V70 AWD LPT the charcoal canister is located up front, driver's side. I found the nut holding it in. The nut itself didn't actually loosen, it stayed frozen on a long shaft that did come loose. I was able to get the canister loose enough to flop around but not loose enough to come out without removing hoses etc that I could only feel, not see. I need to be able to see these hoses and trace everything through. So, do I have to remove the wheel well liner to do this? I ordered a bunch of rivets just in case. Can I improve my access by removing the battery, battery tray, Air cleaner box etc. Can I get to the top of the canister this way?
Gas cap's been replaced with genuine Volvo.

 

Any guidance here? Thanks

 

Did you come up with a solution to get access to it ??

 

Well, not really. I had the car at my local indy to check a rattling catalytic converter. While it was on the lift, he reached up to the op of the canister and a chunk of hose just fell off. He put a piece of hose on there and the P0455 has semi-stopped. I do still get it after a couple of weeks now. One thing that helped a bit too was changing the small filter near the radiator shroud. This filter looks like one of those gas filters used on a lawn mower. I was reading on another forum that the two big hoses up top if you blow into them one at a time, engine off they should not pass air. The one leading to the tank should actually blow back at you a little since you're blowing air into the fuel tank. A mirror and a flashlight might work to look up top too. My big concern now is a broken up converter. Converter, o2 sensors and an install are going to set me back $1000.00 but otherwise the car runs so good it's worth it for now. Strangely, after all this fiddling around, my old P0171 code hasn't come back for over a month now. I haven't been able to find a car to tear apart in a junk yard vet, but I am looking.
Good luck with your work.