Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1999 20:57:02 -0500
Reply-To: Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Subject: Re: 85 GL AC Convert advice + trip report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Thanks for the positive comments.
Thankfully, didn't need the A/C on our trip to Snow Lake, went only to 22 or
23 C, but was nice and sunny and warm.
BTW: Something weird and unknown is going on in the environment here. We
normally see many, many thousands of ducks and other waterfowl. This time we
only saw aprox 20 or 30. Most of NA's waterfowl breed in Manitoba and
Saskatchewan.
Saw lots of wild Tiger Lilies, roses, daisies, black-eyed susans and
bluebells etc. Picked wild strawberries and rasberries - fantastic!
We called one of the roads "the Daisey Trail", since for 20 miles, daisies
lined the shoulders of that road. Sort of surreal at sunset!
We were able to read the newspaper (barely) at 1:30 AM, (the days are so
long) while the Northern Lights danced in the sky above at the same time.
The only downer of the trip was that a mosquito carried off my plate of
pancakes and eggs.
Regards,
Marshall Ruskin
>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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>
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