Broken AC line.
 

Had a hinge pin going bad and it rubbed a hole in the line shown in the photos. Found a used hinge to replace it, and wouldn't you know, when I opened the hood the old hinge caught the line and broke it right behind the connection nut. The guy that had the hinge also brought an old assembly, but the line was a different size, so my idea of possibly using a union and making the fix went out the window.
My question is, have any of you ever tried a repair on one of these aluminum lines? I don't really want to tear into the firewall and try and replace the whole thing even if I can find one, would just like to repair or patch this line if possible. I'm gettin' too old for major mechanical projects, the ol' body boycots this sort of activity. Any ideas will be appreciated. Even if I have to JB weld the darned thing, LOL!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...inewnotes3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...inewnotes2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...inewnotes1.jpg

Re: Broken AC line.
 

FM104 bumper stickers n ducttape

Re: Broken AC line.
 

Any A/C shop can repair that line.

Re: Broken AC line.
 

You can give it a shot with duct tape and bubble gum but you need a new line. A/C runs too much pressure to mess around with bad connections or patches. If that line has no rubber in it just grab one from the junkyard.

Re: Broken AC line.
 

I live in a small town, not sure I would trust any of the AC repairmen around here being in the vicinity of my truck while having any kind of torch in their hand. Same problem with finding parts, the idiots at the local O'Reilly's are incapable of even understanding the issue, let alone finding the correct parts.
I did find this (Devcon FasMetal 10 hvac repair) from doing some online research, thinking of ordering a tube and trying to fix it this way.

Re: Broken AC line.
 

What is the o.d of the line? It look's like 1/4 inch. If that is true then 1/4 inch aluminum pilot tubing for a furnace is the same thing. It look's like it is a vacuume line not a refrigerant line. Is this true? If so then get a 1/4 inch coupling and some tube from a heating supply house or service man. I don't know about reusing the nut.

Re: Broken AC line.
 

It's a refridgerant line @ about 150 psi and is welded to the evaporator inside the housing.
Just find another good evaporator.
Take the engine side of the case off and replace the evaporator core.
Mike.:chevy:/:gmc2:

Re: Broken AC line.
 

A new evaporator is the best plan but Ive had those kinds of thing repaired before. I remember one time we had a Ford Excursion with a hole in a line under the body that goes to thew rear evaporator. Replacing it would have been a pain in the ass w/o removing the body from the frame so we had a local welding shop repair it for us, worked fine. Truthfully though, evaporators aren't too expensive and aren't too terribly hard to replace so Id just get a new or good used one and replace it.

Re: Broken AC line.
 

A new evaporator is $250. I would see about a repair first.
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Re: Broken AC line.
 

Have to agree with leddzepp. There seems to be enough line there to splice a line section into. Maybe someone with a dead evaporator would be willing to donate a section.

Re: Broken AC line.
 

Thanks for the input everyone. And where did this post get moved to?

Re: Broken AC line.
 

If he is looking at a repair of the line then how? Would you swedge the end of the new line so the old line slip's inside and have it welded? Or would you try a flare fitting? I have tried to gas weld aluminum a few time's. I can get it to hold together but never to hold pressure.

Re: Broken AC line.
 

ttt