Date:         Wed, 13 Jul 2005 22:33:05 -0600
Reply-To:     Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      AC conversion to R134a on my '87
In-Reply-To:  <200507140401.j6E41QCd020107@wopr.Colorado.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Stan wrote:
> I spoke with the professional A/C guys at the local shop supplying me with
> the suction valve, dryer, oil, gummy insulation and new era viton O rings.
> They said they seldom replaced hosed from r12 systems for R134a conversions
> unless the old hoses were leaking or just showed too many miles / years to
> trust.
> They guarantee their conversions for a year and they stated that they just
> haven't had any problems with standard hoses and the R134a conversion
> process.

I've had my '87 Syncro Westy for 4+ years.  The AC has never been
cold.  The van was stored for 1+ years before I bought it, so I
figured the freon had leaked out.  It is hot here this summer so
I decided to get it working.  I took it to a shop that does AC,
recommended by my VW mechanic who does not.

They put some (used) freon in it, tested it, found it did not
leak, so then purged it and converted to R134a--oil and fittings.
They did not change any hoses or the receiver/dryer, seals, etc.
I asked them about these and they said that early on they replaced
dryers, etc, but found that it didn't make any difference.
(Remember that Boulder is semi-arid with low humidity....)

Total cost was $380 and it blows cold--colder than I expected
after reading all the AC threads for the last N years(!)  It
kept us cold coming back from Montana/Wyoming in 92+ weather
last week.  Heading S into the sun, it ran fine on fan 2 or 3.
Our dog thinks it is the best $380 I ever spent!  From reading
the list, I was expecting a marginal AC setup, but it works
very well.  We'll see how it holds up.

                                Richard A Jones
                                Boulder, Colorado