解:$(1)$根据题意,得$A - 2(4x^2-5x - 7)=-2x^2+10x + 14,$
$ $所以$A=-2x^2+10x + 14 + 2(4x^2-5x - 7)$
$ =-2x^2+10x + 14 + 8x^2-10x - 14$
$ =6x^2;$
$ (2)$由$(1)$知,$A = 6x^2,$所以$A + 2B = 6x^2+2(4x^2-5x - 7)$
$ =6x^2+8x^2-10x - 14$
$ =14x^2-10x - 14$
$ $当$x = - 1$时,
$ $原式$=14×(-1)^2-10×(-1)-14$
$ =14 + 10 - 14$
$ =10$