I was just wondering if their are different condensers for different year thirdgens. Did they all get the same condenser?

 

No one has any idea. I am looking to get the AC back on my 92 camaro and I used a condenser from a 87 camaro. I could not get the one of the fittings together, but it may just be a tight fit.

Need to get the AC on the new motor, it gets to 110 degrees every day here.

 

Try running different model year profiles through checkerauto.com. 87 was the last year of the v-belt setup, i have an 87. AC compressor mounts on drivers side, dont know though if any difference resides anywhere else. Are you going to r-134a? If you are make sure you flush everyhting properly and change to green o-rings, a new dryer is nice as well. I am converting mine to r-134a, if you got any questions on how to do it properly let me know.

I havent got mine fired up yet, my parents have been in from Chicago for the past week, my progress stopped cold. I did however see a blue 4th gen on campus today that had a whinning blower on it. Got to get it fired next weekend, stepping it up to 6 hours in summer 2, dammit!!!

I see that you made a trip to brown & brown, looks good.

 

not too sure but i know 86'-89' use the same condensor. i also know what the 92' uses a diferent size fitting to conenct to the high pressure side. i learned the hard way. to get that 87' condesor to work all u have to do is get the high pressure line, out of the 87 that runs from the condensor to the orfice tube. that what i did, vice-versa, except for a 92'. i fell ya. you need a/c when you live in the southern states. damn south texas heat. atleast it's not 110* over here yet.

 

Check with someone who sells the Modine brand. They should make a max cool condenser which will run more efficient and have less drag on the engine.

 

That’s a good idea, why didn't I think of that. But it looks like their are two different part numbers. Not sure if I am going to convert to r-134a, I keep hearing that the AC won't be a cold as with R12. I was going to see how much it would cost to recharge my system before I convert.

Yeah that’s what I thought the one I have won't fit in the condenser. Do you know if it was just 92 that had this fitting or if all the 87+ had the same fitting? Does anyone know the part number or name of the fitting? If 87 was the last year of the V-belt setup and 87-89 used the same condenser I should be looking for the line from an 88-89 model right? Will one from an 87 work, or will it be way too long?

 

My car will mostly be a garge queen so I am going to try out the r-134a. Its so damn hot here the r-12 system on my daily driver gets a run for its money to keep me cold between the hours of 11-6, 110 degrees puts a whoopin on all AC systems. You will mostly likey pay through the **** to have a shop charge your system with r-12, i think they want something like 60$/lb to charge it, you will need 3 lbs. You might want to try and shop around for a ghetto shop that might do it for less. They sell r-12 at AAPAC for 35$/12oz can to certed mechanics if you know someone who can suck the system down and then fill it for you. Whatever you do just dont forget to replace all the o-rings, green for r-134 black for r-12.

 

As long as you're replacing parts, you might as well switch to all barrier-type hoses (I don't think you can get any other type any more). Get the largest coils you can get for maximum efficiency, make sure the air baffles are all in place and intact, and the fans are working correctly.

You might also want to look at an R-12 replacement, like R-414B. It's about 8% more thermally efficient than R-12, and 15-20% more efficient than R-134A. It's a lot more affordable, too. There are others available that replace R-12, but I've not tried them.

 

That’s what I am thinking after reading some post which people took their cars in to get the AC fixed and walked out with around a $500 bill. I probably will end up converting to R-134a unless I can learn some more about R-414B. Never heard of R-414B, but I haven't done much AC work. It will probably be cheaper to convert in the long run.

Well, I was running part numbers and it looks like 87-91 have the same hose assembly ($70 @ checker) and the 92 has a different part number for the hose assembly.

Right now my AC is discharges, accidentally put a hole in the condenser. Once I get this new hose on the new condenser what else will I have to have done? If I charge the system myself, what do I need to have done? I heard something about vacuuming out the system

 

Couple of steps that need to be done, or you will have nothing but problems.

If converting to r-134a

1. Go to pepeboys and just check out what they sell for DIY. Get famiair witht the parts involved. You will need a conversion kit.

2. Get a can of the AC system flush and flush everything real good except for the compressor. This will get the majority of the old oil out of the system, the only oil that might be left is an ounce or 2 in the compressor.

3. Make sure all parts are in good order and leak free.

4. It is recomended to get a new dryer but not required, i just bought a new one myself.

5. Change the orafice tube to a, 82 to 89 Ford Thunderbird w/ 302 CID V8, its blue.

6. Replace every single o-ring in the system with the new green ones Vs. the old black ones that are in there. The black ones will eventually get eaten up by the r-134a and new oil mixture and you will get leaks.

7. Have the system sucked down and then rechared. ~70$ at a shop.

 

1992 F Body uses a condenser made ONLY for 1992. Other years will not match the outlet fittings of the condenser to the hard line, as the 1992 model condenser uses a bigger outlet and bigger hard lines.