Date:         Tue, 18 May 1999 22:24:19 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Subject:      AC Compressors & Other Air Cond Parts
In-Reply-To:  <v04011704b36674a54d4b@[209.180.50.119]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> > Does anybody have any (good or bad) experiences with the $300
> > compressor that Bus Depot sells?

> If I'm not mistaken, Ron is selling BRAND SPANKING NEW Sanden
> compressors for that price. That's a steal.


Yes, they are brand new, not rebuilt, and actually start at just $179.95.
This is about 1/4 of the price the dealer charges, and less than most places
charge for rebuilt. However, availability is getting very tight on these new
ones.  I have already been advised that before the season is over, brand new
ones may no longer be available.  But for now, they can still be had.

There are three models used on Vanagons.  The SD508 was used between '83 and
early '86, while the air conditioning systems in Vanagons were still
dealer-installed; those are $179.95.  Starting in '86, VW used both an SD510
and an SD709.  The fiche does not appear to be accurate in identifying which
was used on which vans.  The compressor does have the actual SD part number
written right on it, so that's one way to tell.  The other way is to see
whether your compressor has two totally distinct lines going into the back
of it, into two totally separate places, or two lines that go onto a single
"pad" which then bolts onto the back of the compressor.  If you have the
former, it's a 510; if the latter, a 709.  In either case, these are
$299.95, brand new, for now.  Forseeing the eventuality of having to rebuild
these when supplies dwindle, my distributor is asking for your old '86-up
compressor back, to stockpile for future rebuilding use, but they will even
issue a UPS pickup tag and pay the freight for you to send it back so it's
nice and easy.

I also have receiver-dryers for $59.95.  Again, Volkswagen used several
different ones, so on '86 up I will need a very detailed description of
where the inlet and outlet are located in relation to eachother in order to
send you the correct one.

Finally I have A/C condensors.  There were two versions of these, too.  One
is sort of a "two-piece" design, with a section of fins up top, then an
section about 6" tall that has no fins at all, then another section of fins
below that. The other version has fins all the way up and down.  The former,
VW part number 253 260 403, I have on closeout for $149.95, but only have 3
left.  (Regular VW price is $640, as I learned the hard way when mine
happened to fail *before* this closeout was available.)  The latter version
runs about twice that price.  I'm not positive if one can easily be
substituted for the other.

Oh, and I also have expansion valves for '86-up for $39.95.

These can all be found on the heating & cooling page of my website,
accessable from the main drop-down menu.


- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW