When I did my cam swap I didn't put the AC back on. I will be doing my exhaust soon and then I'll put the AC back.

The air conditioner never worked (since I've owned it) and I'm sure even if I repair it that it will be very expensive to charge it with the old (can't remember the number R-12?) refridgerant (sp).

What are my options? Can I get a newer ac unit from a junk yard? Would it be cheaper to just re-install my old ac unit and take it down to Pep Boys, have them check it for leaks and charge it?

 

Check into recharging with an R-12 replacement, like R414B or Icor "Hot-Shot". It will provide a lot better cooling (15-20%) at a lot lower pressures than R134A, and even slightly better (8%) than the original R12. The R414B is a lot less costly and environmentally friendly.

Reinstall all your parts, install a new accumulator, evacuate the system into a deep vacuum for several hours to remove all moisture, replace the oil, then charge it to the pressure spec, not the weight spec.

 

Where do you get that stuff, Vader? How much?

I've done several R-134a switch-overs with good results, but it's always about 80% of the cooling as the original R-12 refrigerant, which I'm told is about normal. I'd love to use something that actually cools BETTER than R-12.

 

You know, the way I'm going before you know it I'll have a decent car on my hands!

 

You probably already have one. It only seems that a little "catch-up" is necessary to get it back into proper condition. That's just busy work and details (which makes all the difference between a ride and a beater).

 

You're right.

I know an out-of-work paint & body guy with his own home shop that offered to fix the dent in the door and re paint it (the car) for $500 if I do it before Christmas! I had him do a car of mine before....dodge shadow that had faulty primer from the factory and was at the time suffering from male pattern baldness.

I'm thinking I may post-pone my exhaust purchase for a month or two!

 

One of the things we do with 134a is use a f**d orifice tube and that usually gains you IIRC 6-8 degrees of cooling.

 

what part # would that be?