Air conditioning for my knees this summer?

[Anonymous]

I have an airconditioner mounted below the dash. Its ugly and I was going to pull it out, but now I am kind of thinking about trying to fix it. I have the whole system minus the compressor.

My question is, If I pull the compressor off of anything in the junkyard and put it in, would it work? I have to assume that the compressor from any car does the same job- it compresses.

Then, What determines what kind of refridgerant a system uses? If it is just the compressor, I could use 134a if I used a newer compressor. If its the whole system that determines what you use, what did the original units use?

 

[LaGrasta]

it's true, most any compressor will work. the R12 vs R134 however is more difficult. An old R12 system must have the rubber hoses, o rings, dryer and compressor changed for the conversion to 134.

Go to http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ for help and great prices. Jon took care of me and I was very pleased.

 

[wallaka]

An old R12 system must have the rubber hoses, o rings, dryer and compressor changed for the conversion to 134.

Go to http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ for help and great prices. Jon took care of me and I was very pleased.

Well...not necessarily. Use of "conversion" ester oils in the system will allow old, mineral oil-soaked hoses to be used. The dryer needs to be changed every time the system is cracked anyways, and the conversion fittings are widely available. You can use the old style compressors, but I would go to a Sanden 134 type anyway vs. the old York or Tecumseh. The Sanden is smaller, uses less horsepower to run, and cools better.

If the system has been open for a while, it must be scrupulously cleaned (or replaced). I'd wrap an old shop rag around one end of the open hose, then send alternating shots of brake fluid and compressed air. After it looks like no more trash is being blown out, clean from the other direction.

It depends on how much money or time you want to spend. At any rate, you'll have to send it to a shop to get the system vacuumed out if you don't have a vacuum pump. This is after it's assembled, but before refrigerant is put in.

I have heard good things about the company LaGrasta posted as well, but have no experience with them.