Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1999 07:18:42 -0400
Reply-To: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Subject: Re: 85 GL AC Convert advice
Marshall's reply below is dead-center accurate on what you need to do to
convert your AC to R-134, or even to service it for long-term reliability.
The refrigeration process is far more complicated and finicky than most
other things on the vehicle. It relies on compressing, condensing, pumping,
evaporating and ventilating a specific chemical, under very stringent and
specific conditions of pressure, moisture content, and cleanliness. Any
deviation from those very specific conditions, and the system will not
function as well, and will certainly not function for long. Tinkering
invites failure here.
While you *CAN* achieve some cooling for a while by simply "bleeding off"
the R-12 (discussion of impact to the atmosphere omitted), then simply
"refilling" with R-134, I would suggest this is like many other things in
life that you *CAN* do, like live for a month by eating only locusts, or
survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
Take it to an AC tech who knows his stuff, and you won't regret it for a
minute. There is nothing better than getting in a car when it is 105
outside, and having 38 degree air (my Jetta does this).
Cheers.
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree
-----Original Message-----
From: Marshall Ruskin [SMTP:mruskin@PANGEA.CA]
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 1:58 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 85 GL AC Convert advice
Hi Brian:
I'm in the process of using such a kit now.
I've learned that it's not as simple to do PROPERLY as the kits say.
Here's what the A/C techs (licensed Journeymen) at work have done (so
far...).
1. Tested the R12 system pressure prior to doing anything (low);
2. PUMPED out the old R12 for safe recovery
3. Pulled a hard vacuum, and applied high pressure (nitrogen) to test for
leaks, (found none);
4. Drained oil from compressor (and put a new head on, but that's another
story);
5. Blew out all other remaining system oil with nirogen;
6. Removed and replaced Receiver-dryer with a new one;
7. Replaced all O-rings prior to installation of components;
8. Redid vaccuum tests - found a leak - could not hold vaccuum for proper
length of time.
That's where we're at now - they suspect it needs a small amount of oil and
r-134 to make the seals function properly.
Stay Tuned!
Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy Auto, A/C Auto
>Howdy listees;
>
>With the current Northeast heatwave makin' me hot, I thought I'd look into
my
>85 GL's Air Conditioning System.
>
>My A/C is NOT the one in all the books, where it runs the length of the
Van
>and has some of the mechanism above the rear hatch -- mine is instead,
almost
>completely in a large "T" shaped console that starts just above the center
of
>the front windshield and travels along the ceiling to above and slightly
>behind the driver and passenger headrests. Tubing runs down the left side
just
>behind the driver's seat, where I guess it feeds into the compressor in
the
>engine and the A/C radiator in the front.
>
>This means some extra dipping of the head when moving from the rear to the
>front of the vehicle (many friends have already bumped their heads on this
>thing!).
>
>While I was in Pep-Boys recently, I spotted a conversion kit for older GM
>cars. Basically, you bleed off the old refrigerant (r-12(?)), and then add
>this conversion screw with a new inlet, and then refresh with r-134a(?)
and
>it's supposed to work just fine, even in old A/C units.
>
>So, my question of the day is: Can I do this to my Van? Is there a quick
>conversion kit that will allow me to run the new refrigerant in my old
A/C?
>I'd really like to be able to drive in the hotter days of the year (not
that
>112 isn't considered hot right now!!) without melting inside the van.
>
>So if anyone has done this before - particularly if you've done it before
on
>the type of A/C I have, could you please recount your experiences?
Remember,
>I'm still a newbie at being mechanically inclined!
>
>Thanks!
>Brian Cirulnick
>techrat@vm.com
>
>
>
>
>--
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----
> V A N G U A R D M E D I A C O R P
> E-mail: techrat@vm.com URL: http://www.vm.com/
> BBS: (telnet into) bbs.vm.com:3000 --> (or dial into) 212-242-7685
>-The 'Web' is a medium. This is because it is neither rare, nor well
done.-
>
|