Factory ac keep you cool?

[Mikewb]

Anybody have factory style a/c that works well enough to keep you cool while cruisin?

[Low87]

Back when it worked it did.

[Mikewb]

Im thinkin about gettin all the stuff to fix mine. Just didnt want to waste money if it wont keep me cool. anybody know if the compressors are interchangeable or you have to have the type that came on the truck?

[68longhorn]

works great in my 86, ice cold!

[Mikewb]

really? cool. any help on the compressor question is appreciated. and thanks guys

[Mikewb]

And how much difference in mileage is there from using ac and not. or is this a not true thing

[baclay9]

My Dad's factory r12 will flat freeze you out! 36 deg vent temps on 110 deg days
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[Mikewb]

and what all has to be done to convert to the diff coolant?
and if the condenser has been open for years is it bad?

[tucsonjwt]

Yes, but - the compressor needs to be in good shape and charged, R134A does not cool as well as R12(still available), (new EPA mandated refrigerant to be required soon), original A/C system has a lot of vacuum valves/actuators and cables/levers - so after 30 years or so those items need replacing/maintenance.
The original big A6 compressors were replaced with R4 but those usually have serpentine belt, not individual drive belts. Rebuilt compressors never lasted long for me, and a new compressor is many hundreds of dollars. If I had to bring an old factory A/C system back to life with a lot of repairs, I would check out the Vintage Air thread on this forum elsewhere - all electronic and more modern.
You probably give up 1-2 mpg with A/C on, but most of these old squares only get 10-12 mpg anyway.

[Mikewb]

yea. i have all the parts still on the truck except for the compressor. and i have one but not sure which one and if pulleys can be changed out. is it possible to charge it yourself with the new stuff they have? or how much roughly are you lookin at to have it done. just gettin ideas
And was the yes to my question about the condensor?

[franky69c10]

mine is so cold

[Mikewb]

basically lookin to compare costs if i go to salvage get a compressor re seal it and install then get flushed and filled. versus buyin a vintage air and then also having it filled.

[85gmcguy]

Get a good "lifetime warranty" compressor, a drier, and a orifice tube. New hoses if yours don't look really good. Unless your old compressor fragged, your condenser and evaporator should be ok. If you're not sure, flush the system with a solvent designed for A/C systems. You have to pull a good vacuum before you charge it. Shouldn't be more than 150-200 for parts. I did mine back in May and even with 134A it'll freeze you in 90 degree weather.

[Goldfinger]

mine's ice cold it just puts so much drag on the engine.

[CaliDude76]

I have and older compressor, and had the guy pull a long vacuum, and replenish it wit 134a... I get vent temps in the lower 40's when it's 90+ outside.

Stop and go traffic, is good, but highway freezes me out.. I have to put it to the fan setting right above low.. and I'm golden

[Mikewb]

it seems like when i got the truck it had everything but didnt work and i took the compressor off. so im not sure if it was messed up or just leaked. how do you you clean it with that solvent? and the condenser has just been open attached to the truck for years is why i asked but im guessing cleaning it will be fine. And what parts are the dryer and orifice tube? im lookin in lmc and dont see them. Thanks guys its 115 degrees around here

[tucsonjwt]

The problem with a lifetime warranty on a compressor is that when it fails you will have pay somebody to evacuate your system, return the compressor, refill the system. I have had no luck with auto parts stores rebuilt compressors.

[motornut]

i had a friend get his old car ac going last year took him quite a while getting parts and cash only to have it not work again this year
mine burb was cold while it lasted tho
if it was mine i'd go vintage air,all new stuff,and you can call for tec support

[68c10owner]

the factory a/c n my 83 works pretty good. could be better on really hot day but works good enough that I`m not sweating and my kids are comfortable when its on. The only problem i have with it is when its on it "spits" like a miss or something. Was told the compressor may be on it`sway out but dont have the money to replace it just yet and haven`t had time to diagnos it correctly either. My 65 el camino is a factory a/c car but missing the compressor and stuff so I`ll probably just the vintage air kit for that.

[Mikewb]

is there a way to tell if they are bad or not before theyre installed?

[Mikewb]

can you tell if they have gone bad by spinning them? or another way?

[cr34t3d_by_d4rkd3n]

Originally Posted by Mikewb

really? cool. any help on the compressor question is appreciated. and thanks guys

They are interchangeable with slight modification.... (brackets, line diameters i believe)
The only difference is as the year of compressor increases chevy got smarter and made it more efficient and lighter.

Originally Posted by Mikewb

And how much difference in mileage is there from using ac and not. or is this a not true thing

VIA MYTH BUSTERS: at 55mph ac will save gas vs windows down, anything less than a CONSISTENT cruising speed while running ac (ex stop n go traffic) will hurt u. a 75-77 compressor takes 20hp to turn.

Originally Posted by baclay9

My Dad's factory r12 will flat freeze you out! 36 deg vent temps on 110 deg days
Posted via Mobile Device

you lucky bum

Originally Posted by Mikewb

and what all has to be done to convert to the diff coolant?
and if the condenser has been open for years is it bad?

haha....u need to google to get alll facts but r12 is a oil base and 134 is a water base IVE HERED. i dunno how true this is.... but i do know u cannot mix the two and to "flush" a system is still not enough to convert to 134 u needed all new items to run safely.... some of my friends didnt flush, some did, some compressors went out in a week,. some are still going to this day... so the debate is high..... google and research, draw ur own conclusions.

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Yes, but - the compressor needs to be in good shape and charged, R134A does not cool as well as R12(still available), (new EPA mandated refrigerant to be required soon), original A/C system has a lot of vacuum valves/actuators and cables/levers - so after 30 years or so those items need replacing/maintenance.
The original big A6 compressors were replaced with R4 but those usually have serpentine belt, not individual drive belts. Rebuilt compressors never lasted long for me, and a new compressor is many hundreds of dollars. If I had to bring an old factory A/C system back to life with a lot of repairs, I would check out the Vintage Air thread on this forum elsewhere - all electronic and more modern.
You probably give up 1-2 mpg with A/C on, but most of these old squares only get 10-12 mpg anyway.

DUDE U CAN STILL GET R12!? not here in cali, stuffs like crackgold....everyone wants it. agreed, a rebuilt compressor is just as likely to fail vs a compresor off a junker.

Originally Posted by Mikewb

can you tell if they have gone bad by spinning them? or another way?

No.....no.

Remember, the only way a compressor gets lubed is when the ac is on. so if u get a compressor from a junkyard thats been sitting for 4 years, its seals r done.... get one from a still working system, not been sitting too long...

read ur service manuals, they state to run if for a min of 5 min every week no matter what season to keep the seals wet and full.

if u ask me, make ur own system. a compressor is just a fan, moving things at pressures, get a condensor, all relays and sensors (yesss they r present in ur old truck) and put them in, pice by pice......

[tucsonjwt]

I was listening to a local radio automotive call in talk show on the radio a few weeks ago. A caller asked about R12 and one of the mechanics hosting the show said he (and other shops) stocked up on R12 when they knew 134A was going to replace it. He said he had a lot, and 134A is now up in price because of the new replacement for 134A, so he said he recharges old R12 systems for about the same price as 134A - both still pricey. He said R12 is still widely available, but I don't know where he gets his information - maybe south of the border? If I had known that I would have stuck with R12.

[Low87]

You can get a new comp, drier, orifice tube, and seals for $200-$250. Compressor alone is $170-$250. I just replaced all this yesterday, and off to the shop tomorrow to pull a vacuum and charge for around $85.
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[Goats86]

You need to pull all the hoses loose. Pull the accumulator off. Pull the orifice and discard.Get a flush chemical at the parts store. Flush all hoses, evaporator, condenser. Fill them up with the flush chemical, let it sit for a while blow it out. You can't really flush the compressor. Odds it is either dead or leaking. Get new o rings, oil for 134a, accumulator, orifice tube, and compressor. Coat all the o rings with new ac oil when reassembling. Your new compressor should have the amount of oil in it labeled. Add what is needed to get to spec. You can just pour it in the suction side hose (the big one). Reassemble everything else. Turn the compressor 10 - 12 times to make sure the oil in it is pushed out into the hoses. Pull a vac on it for a few hours. My opinion is the longer the better. This removes moisture form the system. After that fill it with 134a. Probably 3-4 cans. Wally World has it for about $10 a can.