Hey all,

To start with, this is my first post here! I'm shopping around for a late-'80s Formula 350 and have located a good candidate in Ohio. Only problem is I'm in Florida, so covering all the bases is proving challenging. I'm flying up next week for a hands-on inspection of the car but I believe it to be quite solid and well cared-for...with one exception, the A/C system.

Current owner has had the car about five years and during all of that time the A/C has never worked. Apparently he bought the car with non-functioning A/C. Tried to charge it with R-12 shortly thereafter but it all leaked out through a hole in the condenser. He decided not to do anything about it.

So here it is, five years later and I'm looking to buy the car. Since I live in Florida I WANT functioning A/C. But since the system in this car has basically been exposed to open air for a good number of years, am I basically looking at an entire A/C system replacement? Somehow I doubt I can just replace the condenser, recharge it and be done with it.

If so, I'm looking at putting a great deal of money into the A/C system and this may give me leverage when negotiating on the price of the vehicle.

Also, while we're on the subject, does anyone have a recommendation for a source for remanufactured or used A/C parts for an '89 Formula 350?

Thanks in advance!

 

I would recomend the condensor and the receiver/dryer at least, it may end up needing the compressor as well, due to possible rust inside(would make noise w/ air on)

 

Thanks Dave...I may end up having to buy a few parts at a time so those will be the ones I start with.

I see you're from Detroit by the way...I grew up there! Always used to see a lot of nice F-bodies around the metro area...we have a lot of 4th gens down here in south FL, but hardly a 3rd gen to be found. (Hence my going all the way to Ohio...)

 

If you're looking for new components, absolutely DO NOT buy from NAPA!!!!!

Let me tell you the condensed version of what happened to me. First compressor's front bearing went out, and took one of the electrical connectors with it, and a piece of the tensioner arm where it bolts to the compressor. I had also put an inline filter, orifice tube, and condensor. System was serviced by a professional for just shy of $300 and converted to 134a. One month later, second compressor ate itself from the inside out. I had just moved to Las Vegas, called my local NAPA here and they told me it wasn't a problem to bring the compressor in and get a warranty job. I had told them I bought it in Wisconsin where I moved from. I took the car to Pep Boys since they were close and had them remove the old compressor. Went to NAPA, and they said that they wouldn't exchange it since I had not bought it there. After much arguing and frustration, I went to Autozone and got a compressor. I've talked to two store managers from NAPA who both told me "tough luck" and can't get an aswer from the NAPA website either. I've got a $275 compressor that's absolutely worthless sitting outside my house and I can't even get my money back, much less the money I've had to pay in labor getting the system serviced each time the NAPA parts failed. I'll bet I've put over $1,300 into that A/C system. To have a national brand name like NAPA tell me it's "tough" is complete crap.

 

Dang...that's incredibly lame! I've had bad luck too with national parts suppliers and have gotten pretty picky about where I get stuff from anymore. I suppose it would be in my best interest to wait to fix the A/C until I've got the money to really get the best parts I can find from the best suppliers. The car's a T-top anyway -- I'll just take the roofs off and try make the best of it in the meantime! But man, this Florida humidity... :P

 

>>> First compressor's front bearing went out, and took one of the electrical connectors with it, and a piece of the tensioner arm where it bolts to the compressor. <<<

I know this is an old post, but I could use some help. I recharged my a/c about two weeks ago, after it had been dead for 4+ years. It blows really cold air now, but it seems to use more engine power than I would think, and recently the belt squealed when I turned it on. Today while driving with the a/c off, I smelled electrical, and when I popped the hood, one of the electrical connectors had melted. It's a connector on the firewall, just passenger side of the HEI. It has 3 green wires and 1 black wire. My wiring diagram says this is a/c stuff, and when I unplugged it, the a/c won't cycle on anymore. From reading this previous post, I'm wondering if bad compressor bearings could cause an electrical short?? Sorry such a long message...

 

Bad bearings could cause a high electrical draw and possibly a short but theres usually a noise that goes along with the bad bearings.