Restoring old air conditioning - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chrismoore701 · 09-08-2020, 07:25 AM

I have a 79 C10. Factory air. I have the compressor, but the electrical connection broke off. IS there any way to restore this unit? Or could it even be run with todays regs? What would it take to put air on my truck?

Loco83 · 09-08-2020, 12:20 PM

Ask around for an older shop that still handles R12, there's a shop in the next town over that still works with R12, when R12 was banned this old guy bought up all the R12 he could find.

Bandit130 · 09-08-2020, 12:31 PM

Do you have the A6 compressor?

**MJN** · 09-08-2020, 01:52 PM

In order to replace the electrical connector you need to remove the clutch and pulley. Good time to replace them anyway, the clutch kits come with a new coil with the electrical terminals on it, Rock auto has them for $65. I used my old compressor but ended up replacing the rest of the system and it still works no problem. You can convert to R-135a but I had mine charged with R-12.

**Corts60** · 09-08-2020, 07:09 PM

Re-charge with R12 if you can. If not, you'll need to convert to R134A which is a little more $$$ and effort with less efficient results.

Dead Parrot · 09-08-2020, 07:40 PM

No problem legal wise with the current compressor. Either R12 or R134 works fine. If the hoses are original, the large ones are probably end of life. I would replace them as part of the process. Especially if going back with R12. Would suck to have $100 worth of coolant leak out of old hoses.

I have had the clutch replaced on the old style compressor without the mechanic needing to break the refrigerant seals.

While replacing hoses, might as well replace the filter/orifice tube.

Most folks recommend replacing the dryer as well but I skipped that when I replaced the compressor 15+ years ago and it is still working fine today. But the system wasn't dead very long before I did the repair. I also stayed with R12 as I had some purchased before the ban happened.

If swapping to R134, the general recommendation is you flush out all the old R12 oil before adding back the oil for the R134 coolant. Apparently, the two oils don't play well together.

chrismoore701 · 09-09-2020, 07:26 AM

thanks guys, I need to find my old components. Not sure if I have the dryer, Sure I don't have the hoses. But I have the condenser. Can I have this system vacuum tested before I move forward?

09-08-2020, 07:25 AM	#1
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Restoring old air conditioning I have a 79 C10. Factory air. I have the compressor, but the electrical connection broke off. IS there any way to restore this unit? Or could it even be run with todays regs? What would it take to put air on my truck? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

09-08-2020, 12:20 PM	#2
Loco83 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Cali Posts: 322	Re: Restoring old air conditioning Ask around for an older shop that still handles R12, there's a shop in the next town over that still works with R12, when R12 was banned this old guy bought up all the R12 he could find.

09-08-2020, 12:31 PM	#3
Bandit130 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Euless, Texas Posts: 520	Re: Restoring old air conditioning Do you have the A6 compressor? __________________ 1974 Cheyenne 10 LWB Stock 350 W/HEI /TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet Mopar by Birth Chevy by Choice

09-08-2020, 01:52 PM	#4
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,052	Re: Restoring old air conditioning In order to replace the electrical connector you need to remove the clutch and pulley. Good time to replace them anyway, the clutch kits come with a new coil with the electrical terminals on it, Rock auto has them for $65. I used my old compressor but ended up replacing the rest of the system and it still works no problem. You can convert to R-135a but I had mine charged with R-12. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com

09-08-2020, 07:09 PM	#5
Corts60 Just here to tinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 3,697	Re: Restoring old air conditioning Re-charge with R12 if you can. If not, you'll need to convert to R134A which is a little more $$$ and effort with less efficient results. __________________ 78 C10 SWB Diesel #1 (wrecked)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1978+silverado 78 C10 SWB Diesel #2 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751 60 GMC Suburban (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=445526 60 GMC 1000 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=298235 67 GMC 1500 (sold) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803695 73 Chevy C20(Daily)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=852767 86 Suburban(summer unit) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=810697 88 Suburban 4x4(sold)

09-08-2020, 07:40 PM	#6
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,620	Re: Restoring old air conditioning No problem legal wise with the current compressor. Either R12 or R134 works fine. If the hoses are original, the large ones are probably end of life. I would replace them as part of the process. Especially if going back with R12. Would suck to have $100 worth of coolant leak out of old hoses. I have had the clutch replaced on the old style compressor without the mechanic needing to break the refrigerant seals. While replacing hoses, might as well replace the filter/orifice tube. Most folks recommend replacing the dryer as well but I skipped that when I replaced the compressor 15+ years ago and it is still working fine today. But the system wasn't dead very long before I did the repair. I also stayed with R12 as I had some purchased before the ban happened. If swapping to R134, the general recommendation is you flush out all the old R12 oil before adding back the oil for the R134 coolant. Apparently, the two oils don't play well together.

09-09-2020, 07:26 AM	#7
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Re: Restoring old air conditioning thanks guys, I need to find my old components. Not sure if I have the dryer, Sure I don't have the hoses. But I have the condenser. Can I have this system vacuum tested before I move forward? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE



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