A/C done the cheap way

[Bpokey]

My 68 was a factory air truck that had the condenser, compressor and the hoses missing when I bought it. I had added a serpentine belt setup a while ago that had the compressor with it. After a few days in the 90's with the good ol' Florida humidity I figured I needed to do something. I got a evaporator and condenser, and hard lines from a 1987 Camaro. The evap fits in the factory suitcase with a little Great Stuff foam spray around the edges. The condenser was a tight fit but with a little trimming and some homemade brackets it fit in. A late 80's early 90's S-10 donated it's hoses. New o-rings and drier/accumulator, a little wiring, some 134a and there you have it cheap A/C.

[lovnthe70]

nice work!! i need to do this one day.... Phoenix sucks with no a/c!

[Bpokey]

At least it's a dry heat.

[JMac11]

What kind of vent temp are you getting?? How much 134 did you need??

[T/C]

I want a/c... Texas sucks during the summer

[Bpokey]

Originally Posted by JMac11

What kind of vent temp are you getting?? How much 134 did you need??

I haven't checked the vent temp but it feels pretty cold. I drove it today with temps in the mid 90's and I was comfortable. I used 2 1/2 cans of 134 and 8oz of PAG oil.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool info for others doing it on the cheap as well! nice job!

[QKENUF4U]

Originally Posted by Bpokey

At least it's a dry heat.

feels 100x better than the humidity you deal with....

[foamypirate]

Originally Posted by Bpokey

I haven't checked the vent temp but it feels pretty cold. I drove it today with temps in the mid 90's and I was comfortable. I used 2 1/2 cans of 134 and 8oz of PAG oil.

What viscosity of PAG did you use?

[57larry]

under the dash or in dash vents? pics pls

[stealthy '69]

Originally Posted by Bpokey

At least it's a dry heat.

So is an oven, but I don't wanna be hanging out in there. At least that's what I tell my dad. (He lives outside Phoenix) Good thinking by the way. I would've never thought of doing that. But then again, I do things bass ackwards.

[Bpokey]

Originally Posted by foamypirate

What viscosity of PAG did you use?

The bottle I used says medium viscosity.

[Bpokey]

Originally Posted by 57larry

under the dash or in dash vents? pics pls

My truck had air from the factory so I am using the factory vents. I was lucky and the truck had all the vents and ducting all I did was replace the hoses under the dash.

[foamypirate]

Originally Posted by Bpokey

The bottle I used says medium viscosity.

That would probably be PAG-100 then. I believe the 3 common ones are PAG-46, PAG-100, and PAG-150.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately to retrofit to 134A in my 87', but I still haven't seen a concrete answer on what viscosity to use. Thanks for the info!

[Bpokey]

Originally Posted by foamypirate

That would probably be PAG-100 then. I believe the 3 common ones are PAG-46, PAG-100, and PAG-150.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately to retrofit to 134A in my 87', but I still haven't seen a concrete answer on what viscosity to use. Thanks for the info!

The bottle does say PAG 100. I sure hope that is the right one! I had a friend of mine help me and he is pretty knowledgeable about these things. He hasn't steered me wrong yet.

[jmedero]

Hey dude just noticed your in pcola. I'm up in pace. What part of town are you in?

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by Bpokey

My truck had air from the factory so I am using the factory vents. I was lucky and the truck had all the vents and ducting all I did was replace the hoses under the dash.

My 72 GMC Short/Fleet is an A/C Cab. The previous owner put in a Stock 94 350 (Serpentine Belt Set-up) with a stock AC Compressor.
Took it to my A/C guy and he said all he had to do was make up 2 Hoses and recharge the compressor. Wirring Harness was there and so was the Vent tubbing. $200.00-$300.00 tops and it'll be done!

P.S. That may be a good idea to hook it up ASAP, as we may be relocating from Northern California, to the Desert Hot Springs/Palm Springs area of SO CAL!

[RichardJ]

You didn't say exactly where the compressor came from.
New compressors and factory systems that had 134A would most likely had PAG oil.
If you are using a used compressor that had R12 in it you should use Ester oil that is on the shelf next to the PAG oils. PAG oil does not mix well with the old R12 compressor oil, according to every source I have read. Ester oil is compatable with the R12 oils.
The Ester oil has worked well with the conversions I have done. Just to be on the safe side and knowing it is compatable, I still put 6-8 oz of sacrificial Ester Oil into the pump to flush it out. I shake it and cycle the pump a dozen times while I'm pouring it all out. If you find metal in this oil there is no sense mounting it.

[Bpokey]

Originally Posted by jmedero

Hey dude just noticed your in pcola. I'm up in pace. What part of town are you in?

I am in west P'cola near the back gate of NAS. I will be on my way to Mayport FL in the fall.

[Bpokey]

Originally Posted by RichardJ

You didn't say exactly where the compressor came from.
New compressors and factory systems that had 134A would most likely had PAG oil.
If you are using a used compressor that had R12 in it you should use Ester oil that is on the shelf next to the PAG oils. PAG oil does not mix well with the old R12 compressor oil, according to every source I have read. Ester oil is compatable with the R12 oils.
The Ester oil has worked well with the conversions I have done. Just to be on the safe side and knowing it is compatable, I still put 6-8 oz of sacrificial Ester Oil into the pump to flush it out. I shake it and cycle the pump a dozen times while I'm pouring it all out. If you find metal in this oil there is no sense mounting it.

The compressor came out of a 1995 C1500. I am not sure exactly when the change to 134 took place. We cleaned all the lines and compressor out before recharging so I hope it stays working. 2 days and I am still cool.