I have a 1987 GTA 350 and I can't get the A/C to hold a charge. Any ideas where I should start to look?

 

Definately a leak somewhere. The most likely place is the compressor seal. Hose connections and connection blocks leak also, but I've found the compressor seal is usually where the leak is and of coarse the most expensive to fix.

Probably going to have to take it to an indy or find someone that has a leak detector. I have one that will detect a very small leak, you can buy a cheap one for about $100. Still less than a lb. of R-12.

If by chance it's one of the hoses, I have a set of hoses off of a '92 Camaro.

 

Look for a bottle called snoop (its a soapy liquid). Make sure there is still pressure in the AC system. Squirt the snoop around joints and fittings the most likely place for a leak. You will see bubbles come from the leak.

 

I wouldn't rely on that method.....Only way to find it for sure is to charge the system, inject dye into the system, drive it for a few days then run a UV light over the whole a/c system, that leak will glow. Only really true reliable way.

 

I built chillers for a couple of years and I did the brazing on them. We found 90° of our leaks with snoop. The really small and hard to find leaks were detected by filling system with Helium and using an Electronic leak detector. We never used any dye.