Hey, I was doing the conversion from R12 to R134 like the tech article states. I'm replacing the compressor, accumulator, and orifice tube. In my haste to have it fixed, I forgot to remember which end goes in first. The person who worked on it before me apparently had a problem removing the orifice tube and ended up putting an adaptor on it which is essentially a connector tube with two fittings on the end.

Alright, with all that said. I was looking this up. I just wanted to be sure that I put everything together correctly before I spend a couple of hundred bucks to flush, pull vacuum, and fill the system. This is what I want to know. Does the short end of the orifice tube faces the rear of the car or to the front? (I'm pretty sure it faces the rear) -- the larger screen faces toward the front of the car (ie condensor). With the fitting that was installed, I could do either way just by rotating it 180 degrees.

Also I bought a GM replacement orifice tube. Looks like other people recommend the F**d orifice tube. Does anyone have any experience?

Thanks....

 

The screen faces the condenser or the front of the car. You want to get all those particles filtered out before they can clog up that little orifice.

 

I'm pretty sure that you install the long end of the screen into the tube. The short end will face the front. If in doubt, go to your local automotive shop, Autozone, O'Reilly's,...whichever, and they can tell you.

Jim.

 

if you're converting to 134a, you will get better performance with the smaller ford tube.


also, it shouldnt cost hundreds for a 134a conversion. you only need about $40 in materials (for a GOOD conversion, a cheap all in one kit is less then $20)

the only cost variable is what a shop charges to pull a vacuum.

 

Isn't he better off with a Variable Orifice Valve?

 

Alright, I've gotten two different answers. One for the long end forward and one for the short end forward. I checked the IROC zone site and they recommend the long end to face forward. The repair that was done on it in the past consist of a tube that was spliced into the original tubing. So it can be installed with the orifice tube in either direction, depending how you do it.

I took it off initially to try to get as much junk out of the system. The orifice tube has a lot of metal shaving in the screen. This is the norm for my life, screw it up to figure things out. There is a little arrow on the connector now that I think about it. I'm assuming it indicates the direction of refrigerant flow. Based on that I would assumed the short end will face toward the rear.

 

You must buy a kit to flush the AC system. Flush before installing new stuff, but after removing the old stuff. Also, get some new 'o' rings.
Consider not using R-134A. Please read my posted response to "A.C. Woes", just an inch or two below your initial posting. You will be thrilled with the results, if you use the product called Envirosafe, which I discuss in the posting.

 

Just did my conversion last week. Your answer for an evaporator mounted orifice tube. The long screen end will point towards the front of the car. You will insert the orifice tube with the short end first (towards rear of car).
I suggest FOrd tube or a variable like I used ($22)[

Good Luck

 

Thanks guys. I wonder what people use to do before message boards and the internet. :lala: :lala: :lala:

 

I recommend FREEZE 12, cools better, can buy at Amazon.