Heyas...I am planning an A/C install on my 86, and have access to all the necessary parts, but need to pull the refrigerant out of the donor car system. A while ago I had bookmarked a link to a ghetto fabbed recfovery setup using a propane tank/bottle and a old fridge compressor. SInce then my comp crasshed and I lost the link.

Does anyone (firstly understand what I am saying ) have a link to such a contraption or can point me to some solution etc.?

I have tried searching again on the net and here there and everywhere but have not found the answer yet.

I know silly question but anyone help?

Thanks
Terry

 

freeze 12... it's cheap. just use that. i just ordered some.

 

Actually, its a great question. I can ask my friend (he does AC for a living), and hopefully I can get you the information you need. Stay tuned..

 

bump...in case anyone else has an idea

 

your refering to that cheap r12 replacement refridgerant you can buy. Id go with that, heard it works ok. Will find its way through the seals easier but for the price...no biggy. ******* r 12 is what like $90 a pound now??!!!r134a retro kits are pretty cheap too remmeber.

 

So I'm guessing a condom with a rubber band on the low pressure side is out of the question...

 

For what it is worth!!

I needed to take a trip accross the dessert a few years back and my AC was toast. I went to the local wrecking yard and got a used comperssor that was just laying in the back seat of a car there, they didn`t know if it worked so I got it for $20.00. I went home, flushed it, bought a retrofit kit and charged it with the R13 and went on vacation. I didn`t care how long it lasted, as long as it lasted for the trip. That was about 3-4 years ago and all is well. I didn`t change squat for other seals, dryer, nothing. It wines a little when I use it, but it has never gotten loader over the years. Just my experience.

 

For a cheap recovery tank, use a 20# propane tank. Either remove the valve and fit a refrigerant valve with a shraeder (1/4" flare) fitting or make a POL to 1/4" flare adapter. Propane's vapor pressure curve is very close to R-22 so the tank can be used for either 12 or 22 or 134a. Be sure to label them so as not to mix refrigerants.

Nother link:

http://www.aircondition.com/wwwboard...sages/427.html

 

too friggen dangerous -

 

So is crossing the street.

 

That was the link I was looking for...thanks!

 

oops no that wasnt the link I thought but looks interesting...anyone else have an idea?

 

Yes, Pep Boys, Kragen, or whoever in your area sells a retrofit kit for around $40 bucks. There is one with guages but you need more refrigerant and oil. BUT get the guage you'll fel better during the process.

I fumbled around trying "Out think" everybody just as you are doing now. Finally I just did what the instructions told me and it couldn't have been easier. Basically you are just putting the larger valves on the high and low side in order to accept the R-134a refrigerant. Then you just need to put some oil and then refrigerant maybe a little more oil and a little more refrigerant.........My vert is a nippy 63 degrees inside when it is 90 and sunny outside, just the way I like it.

One note, check the schrader valves on your vacuum lines. My first charge leaked out only because the valve was loose. Also while there is no gas in your lines take the old valves out as the retro kit comes with new valves in the adaptors and you don't need one restricting the flow from another.....make sense??? The restriction will make it a slow process. You need to have 75 psi in the low side.

I also found that charging the system was a slow process. Because I am impatient, I left the can hooked up, tucked it back in some other lines and ran errands while the gas was sucked in. (I don't suggest you do this but). When I got to my first stop I changed cans. by the time I got home all the refrigerant was inside and the A/C was blowing really cold (nice).

One more thing. If you live in a humid area the possibility exists that you have moisture inside your system. You could have the system evacuated -OR- fill it and run it for a while and then let some out (the High side) and charge it again. soon all the (Hydrogen molecules) moisture will be replaced with R-134a.

Sorry, for suggesting all the CHEAP ways of doing things but I have a budget I have to stick to so for $50 bucks I have a nice cool A/C. I figuered you would want the same.