Hi, we are in the process of doing some maintenance on our 1982 Firebird Trans AM. The car has 24,700 actual miles, however many of the rubber parts have deteriorated from age. The AC hose assembly is leaking Freon from every place where rubber hose meets aluminum fitting. I found a replacement hose assembly, however it routes the hoses forward towards the radiator then circles around back to the evaporator and condenser. The OE hose routes directly toward the right side of the car crossing the engine behind the alternator. Will the hose that routes over the top of the fan shroud work? I have a local garage working on it, and they say it will not work?

I would be working on it myself, however I am right in the middle of chemotherapy and radiation for prostate cancer. My stamina is poor right now due to the disease and the treatment. Thanks in advance. Charles

 

I have searched the internet for hours on several different days and can only find the later style hose assembly. The local garage is suggesting having a NAPA store in another town who is able to make hoses replace the rubber parts, reusing the fittings.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.6080...509486&pid=1.7

Mine is not a cross-fire, however the hoses are arranged like this one above.

http://www.impatientcreations.com/im...TransAm_06.JPG

The replacement hoses assemblies look like this design.

 

Charles, I'm looking at the photos and it appears that the suction/discharge ports are in a different "clock" positions.

Can the compressor can be unbolted from it's mounting brackets and rotated clockwise allow you to use the "over the fan shroud" type hose assembly?

If you want to keep the factory look, I think your only option is to find a place that will custom make a hose assembly for you. Most AC specialty shops should be able to do this for you.

Take care and I hope you're feeling better soon.