Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2515575
06/30/18 09:17 PM
06/30/18 09:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,679 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Some things to consider. A quality conversion to R134a can be accomplished but you need some R134a specific components. The condenser is different and the H valve or expansion valve is also different. The addition of an electric fan for the condenser also helps to keep the high side pressure down when sitting in traffic.
I did the conversion on my 92 D250. I used a R134a compatible condenser, a newer R134a H valve, a new compressor, evaporator and drier. Others maintain you need to change the hoses to the newer barrier style but I didn't do that as they are not available. Yeah I know I could have had them made but my hose ends are not in great shape and I didn't want to mess with them. So I flushed the hoses really well and used PAG oil because I work at a dealership and there are plenty of half used cans of the stuff sitting around. I also added two 8" electric pusher fans on the condenser.
Either way it works well, will cycle the compressor if it's not on high at around 38*. In the 5 years since I did the conversion I have not had to add any refrigerant. The biggest problem I have with the old gal is keeping the hot outside air out of the cab. If it wasn't for that this thing would cool awesome.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: Guitar Jones]
#2515717
07/01/18 02:10 AM
07/01/18 02:10 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 954 garnett kansas
rhad
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super stock
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ok,my 2 cents ,i have a 92 dakota that had a hose go bad ,so i bought a new hose and drier and expansion block,i bought some 134 compatible oil dumped some in by guesswork,didnt drain the old oil at all!,evac and charged with 134,works good,but it had a problem at idle it would push out some gas out of the pop off valve thats screwed in the back of the compressor,so come winter time i removed the valve and filled it with jb weld and put it back in,evac and charged the system,works fine,no leaks,this was at least 5 yrs ago,maybe more,compressor is somewhat noisy but was before i converted it,i was told by a mechanic at the time the compressor wasnt going to last very long?,as it and the truck has 348000 miles on it and still puttin out cold air your experience may vary!1
my ladder of success is missing some rungs
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2516892
07/03/18 02:45 PM
07/03/18 02:45 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,683 The Historic Hudson Valley
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Thanks EV2, appreciate the offer. Will let you know if I need it.
Thanks for all the detailed replies, learning a lot.
Another couple of questions based on above :
How can I tell what type of refrigerant was used to charge the restored system if there were no obvious changes to valves etc?
If 134a was used and can be replaced with R12, would a shop need a 134a machine to remove the 134a or can it be removed with any machine?
Would it need to be somehow "flushed out" of all previous contents before recharging with R12?
Mopar Or No Car
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2518002
07/05/18 03:24 PM
07/05/18 03:24 PM
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Thanks for the reply Ply72rr.
The charging ports don't appear to be changed, but I was just told that 134a was used. So not sure what's in there, that's why I am hoping a shop can identify and then take action based on what's there.
Appreciate all the replies. Will let you know what I find out...
Mopar Or No Car
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2518012
07/05/18 03:42 PM
07/05/18 03:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,679 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,679
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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If it has R134a in it I would keep it. It's far easier to deal with and readily available. The problem with R12 is that there aren't many shops with the equipment to deal with it. You can't recover R12 with a R134a machine as has been stated previously. You end up with a contaminated machine and tank.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: moparx]
#2518364
07/06/18 12:31 PM
07/06/18 12:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
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is it possible to put in R134 without changing the port fittings ? Anything is possible. Like putting on the fittings, filling it up with R134 and removing the fittings. Yeah, they are supposed to be non-removeable, they aren't.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2520074
07/10/18 04:55 PM
07/10/18 04:55 PM
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Okay so according to Classic Air the original components ( compressor, clutch, filter drier and hoses ) were rebuilt to be compatible for BOTH R134a and R12.
The resto shop said they used 134a to charge system (but see no difference in the charging valves/ports).
If I wanted to go back to R12 then Classic Air would have to re-restore compressor and drier at the least...
Don't know of anyone that has a sniffer to detect R12 vs R134a. Any obvious ways to tell to confirm?
Mopar Or No Car
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: Supercuda]
#2520075
07/10/18 04:56 PM
07/10/18 04:56 PM
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is it possible to put in R134 without changing the port fittings ? Anything is possible. Like putting on the fittings, filling it up with R134 and removing the fittings. Yeah, they are supposed to be non-removeable, they aren't. This is likely what they did if they charged it with R134a
Mopar Or No Car
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2520080
07/10/18 05:01 PM
07/10/18 05:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,005 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
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If I wanted to go back to R12 then Classic Air would have to re-restore compressor and drier at the least... Why? If the components were "rebuilt to be compatible for BOTH R134a and R12" a simple change in refrigerant shouldn't be a problem. Most current driers are compatible with both refrigerants, as is ester oil, so you can swap back and forth as desired.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: John_Kunkel]
#2520087
07/10/18 05:18 PM
07/10/18 05:18 PM
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If I wanted to go back to R12 then Classic Air would have to re-restore compressor and drier at the least... Why? If the components were "rebuilt to be compatible for BOTH R134a and R12" a simple change in refrigerant shouldn't be a problem. Most current driers are compatible with both refrigerants, as is ester oil, so you can swap back and forth as desired. Good point John. Why can't I simply replace 134a with R12 . I'm waiting to hear back from Classic Air to confirm. What about the oil , per above reply each refrigerant uses a different oil , won't that require some work to flush the R134a oil out ? "R12 uses mineral oil R134 uses ester or PAG oil."
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2520136
07/10/18 07:10 PM
07/10/18 07:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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John_Kunkel
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I assume that, if it was configured to use both refrigerants, it has ester oil which is compatible with both.
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2520380
07/11/18 07:37 AM
07/11/18 07:37 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,098 Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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just if somebody is interested... old article but I think still valid
With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
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Re: A/C with R12 still serviceable?
[Re: MONC]
#2520577
07/11/18 03:01 PM
07/11/18 03:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Heard back from Classic Air and they said regarding evacuating R134a to put in R12 "As long as you flush the system it can be done"
So we'll see.
Thanks for posting NachoRT
Mopar Or No Car
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