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conversion from R12 to R134

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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/13/05 8:25pmMessage 71 of 83
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424
Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!
The angle fittings help.  And yes, most of the adaptors do require removing the old valve core first.
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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/14/05 3:21amMessage 72 of 83
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Old Hickory, TN - USA
Joined: 5/26/2003
Posts: 601
Vette(s): 1978 L-82 Silver Anniversary hotrod. /////////////
Steve,

Simplest way for me was to get an R-12 recharge hose with a 45 degree fitting in the end and cut both hoses and splice the 45 deg. end onto the new R-134 hose, fits like an original R-12 setup. Back up one page in the thread for more discussion on this little wart in the A/C mount crash.

Dave
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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/14/05 3:43amMessage 73 of 83
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Old Hickory, TN - USA
Joined: 5/26/2003
Posts: 601
Vette(s): 1978 L-82 Silver Anniversary hotrod. /////////////
Ken,

BTW.... Mine is still blowing cold air out of the foot vents only.I have not dug into it yet. Any quick hints from an ASE Master at a simple way for a guy our age to easily (?) get to the vacuum diaphragms to check out which to open and close to get it blowing cold in my face? I have never even found or seen the things.

I did drive the thing to Florida and back last month, nice trip down, 20 MPG avg. @ 80 - 85 MPH, beautiful weather, but back in the non-stop rain from Montgomery to Nashville....... MISERABLE!!!!!! I parked it when I got back and have not even touched it since, still nasty dirty.

Dave
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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/14/05 5:36amMessage 74 of 83
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424
Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!

No easy way.  The vacuum controls operate the vent doors.  The system either is not switching at the control head in the console, or you have a vacuum leak.  This is a small enough leak that the engine is not affected.   Where is the leak?  Darn good question.  It can be a loss at the engine connection all the way into somewhere in the dash.

If you don't have a hand vacuum pump, use a long piece of vac line.  Connect it to the running engine, and use that for a source for testing.  It can even be connected to another car, you just need a source.   In you car I would suspect the control head vacuum switch.  But if some one has worked on the dash, all bets are off.  They could  have a leak or a pinched line blocking vacuum anywhere.

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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/14/05 6:18amMessage 75 of 83
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jersey city, NJ - USA
Joined: 11/30/2003
Posts: 372
Vette(s): 1979 corvette metallic silver/red leather interior
[QUOTE=kstyer] The angle fittings help.  And yes, most of the
adaptors do require removing the old valve core first.[/QUOTE]
ken- thanks for the heads up- so what happens if that old valve
core will not come out? it unscrews easily just like your typical
inner tube valve, but it will not come out! The lower part of the
valve core seems to be attached somehow inside. this damn
little 10¢ valve is the only thing in my way now! AAAAARGH!
has this ever happened to you? what a p.i.t.a.!

oh, and thanks for input too, dave- might end up doing that if the
adapter does not work- that rig you made up sounds like a
good idea.stevep31638517.3612384259
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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/14/05 9:34amMessage 76 of 83
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Gloucester, VA - USA
Joined: 1/29/2005
Posts: 1456
Vette(s): 1979 T-Top, Metallic Green ZZ4 350/355 hp 405 ft/lbs torque Dual Spal Fans 700R4 4 Spd O/D Transmission 2004 Z06 Commemorative Edition

 Okay

 New problem with the converted system. I replaced the accumulator , had the system vacuumed and charged with 134a. Now, I won't complain about the coolness because I knew that going in it wasn't going to cool as much.

The compressor (R4) is making ALOT of noise. I've read that the compressor oil is carried with the 134 coolant. So, is it possible that the charge didn't contain enough oil to lube the pistons in the compressor or is this just a case of a 27 year old part going bad. I mean I'm willing to swap out to a new/rebuilt R4 but am I just going to have this problem again with the new one?

 Jim

Lifetime Member #73

The Money Pit.... and my niece

(click to see a slightly larger version)

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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/14/05 11:22amMessage 77 of 83
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Old Hickory, TN - USA
Joined: 5/26/2003
Posts: 601
Vette(s): 1978 L-82 Silver Anniversary hotrod. /////////////
Ken,

How accessible are the vent door actuators? I'd like to try running vacuum directly to them first then work my way back to the control head, replacing the tubing with new nylon or urethane flex tube. No sweat on the vacuum source, I have a super vacuum pump that will get down to 29.95++" hg.

Dave
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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/14/05 7:14pmMessage 78 of 83
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jersey city, NJ - USA
Joined: 11/30/2003
Posts: 372
Vette(s): 1979 corvette metallic silver/red leather interior
Arrrrr, she be blowin cold matie!

ive got icicles growin on me beard!

turns out that sometimes the the old shrader valve core will get
stuck
in there, and needs a little coaxing (ok- a lot of heavy yanking)
to
get that bugger out. once i got it out, i put on the brand new 90
degree fitting i got from napa, and the rest was a snap! seems
to blow
cold and works well.

thanks for the help guys!- one more reason why  i went gold!!!!!





if anyone else has the problems i had- heres a scan of the part i
got from napa and a little rough sketch of it

stevep31638538.3990162037
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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/16/05 12:34pmMessage 79 of 83
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HURRICANE, UT - USA
Joined: 1/11/2004
Posts: 119
Vette(s): 1978 L82 4 speed Black on Black vin12231 BDay Nov 7 1977 1966 327 Roadster BDay May 18, 1966 (next project)

What are thoughts on using a hydrocarbon refrigerant?  ie. Like RedTek as mentioned in dcfblujeans post above.  I read their product brochure which indicated it is designed as a direct replacement for R12 and R134a. Seems it takes less head pressure so it's compatable with existing oil, seals and components.  I called them and they indicated with a current sealed working system, their product would directly replace my R12.  The Retro and Charging Kit they sell is $54 bucks.  Gonna give it a shot. 

http://63.135.115.175/

-Eric

 

L82M2138519.5255902778
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conversion from R12 to R134

Posted: 6/22/05 1:58pmMessage 80 of 83
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Franklin Square, NY - USA
Joined: 4/18/2004
Posts: 116
Vette(s): ' 76 Customized .Mid year rear window ( ' 67 style ). It has an '80 nose,'80 rear bumper , and a 76 hood . Also , I squeezed in a ' 94 Vette LT1 . Paint is a custom mixed BLACK with RED PEARL mixed in !

Ah, all this talk about a/c conversions!  Makes me wonder how much grief I'll run into trying to get the a/c from a ' 94 lt-1 to work with the ' 76 plumbing . I have replaced the engine in my ' 76 with a ' 94 lt-1 , and everything has had to have been custom made, more or less. I'm thinking some custom work might have to be done to the a/c as well ? Any thoughts   

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