Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 10:50:35 -0500
Reply-To: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Subject: Re: Is There Internal Difference between SD-508 and SD-709
compressor?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Ken and All,
Don't know what the difference is but can affirm the sanden 508 will
work very well if the rest of the system is in proper condition on an 86
westy. 40 - 50 degree air coming from the rear unit on 90 plus days and a
very cool westy in 15 minutes of running. This is using r134a. Aero makes
many and most all the fittings you need to make hoses or modify existing
ones to fit your needs. I had hoses made up at a local shop that does hoses
for farmers, commercial applications like quarries, mines, etc. Aero sells
hose connectors that require a crimper or ones that screw onto the end of
the hose. The later are the ones I use. They have an outer shell that screws
over the hose and an inner pipe that screws inside the hose.
I have found that the 86 westy also uses the sanden 508. Several others
on the list affirmed this observation, a couple of years ago. I upgraded the
86 westy switches, condenser, and evaporator with the later units but
retained the 508. The 86 westy has no high / low switches from the factory.
This was causing problems as my system was running 450 psi while sitting on
hot humid southern illinois days. The high switch on later units will open
the circuit to the clutch at about 250 psi. I like the fact that I don't
feel / hear the compressor complaining and my new hoses are not leaching
oil through the sides as the old ones did.
I had never experienced the ac system of the van (non westy) until this
year when I got the unit in my 87 van functioning. This unit is very good
and efficient and puts cool air right where you want it. One can direct the
air flow where it is needed on your upper body not on arthritic knees and
elbows as most vehicles I have driven throughout my life. If I had driven or
ridden in a van with ac setup like the 87 early in life I would have owned
several. It is near instant relief from heat.
Darrell
----- Original Message -----
From: <KENWILFY@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 8:21 AM
Subject: Is There Internal Difference between SD-508 and SD-709 compressor?
> I want to know if anyone knows for sure if there is any internal
differences
> between the two different Vanagon Air Conditioning compressors (SD-508 for
> 83-85 Vanagons and SD-709 for '86 and newer)? If they are the same
> internally then the only real difference is the "head" of the unit (the
back
> end where the lines connect to the compressor) which can be swapped over.
>
> The reason why I ask this is that I have a nice low priced supplier of new
> SD-508 compressors (I can sell these for $175 new) but I am having a
> difficult time finding a supplier for the SD-709 compressors new (and the
> price would be more expensive if I did). But if they are the same
internally
> and you can just swap the "head" over then I could offer new compressors
for
> the later model Vanagons at a reasonable price and with excellent
> availability.
>
> I have swapped the head over from a SD-508 compressor to a Rabbit
compressor
> and installed one of these in my '84 Vanagon last year with good results
(its
> really easy as there are no moving parts to deal with).
> Anyone know for sure?
> Ken Wilford
> Van-Again
> John 3:16
>
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