I think that since I have been able to make it through another summer in florida with black interior and no air conditioning that I can do without it altogether. I really don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a new compressor and then have the rest of the a/c system not work. Before I make a definite decision though I'd like to get some input from some of you that have a/c, if any of you do. I guess I just want to know how well the a/c systems you have work, do they get ice cold? take forever to cool off? how is the actual output?

It wouldn't take much to change my mind if the a/c systems are worth the money but, if not I'd rather lose the weight and spend my money elsewhere.

Also, I think it was Shady that said he noticed a difference in performance from removing the bumpers, is this right? I know when I had my front bumper off it had to weigh around 40-50lbs and Im sure the car would look more aggresive if I lost the front bumper, I dunno about the rear.

On a more personal note, I just farted and now my room smells like rotten eggs that have been sitting out in the sun for several hours.

 

A proper R-12 system is going to be awesome. IMO, R12 systems get too cold. If you can get the system up to like new standards then any R12 system will blow cold. It's all about ensuring there are no leaks and no moisture/contamination in the system. Make sure the compressor is working properly, replace the receiver/dryer and that there are no unnecessary resistricions in the system (partially plugged condensor, evaporator, or expansion valve). If all that is up to snuff then you'll be happy with it.

Some r134 systems just aren't up to snuff on the "cold" department. I've been in new cars that just didnt seem like they blew cold enough. I've yet to come across a properly working/maintained R12 system that didnt blow more then cold enough for me.

 

R12 is illegal though. . .

 

Use freeze 12, it is legal to buy at the store. And works with the original freon. I did it in my Celica last year.

 

well if you want to remove everything, just read my thread, called removal of everything. I did it both for weight and cause they didn't work, it had that acc.

 

Nah I don't want to remove everything I did read that thread though. I just wanted to know if keeping the a/c is worth it but, I think I'd probably have to replace everything anyway so goodbye a/c stuff. I'd like to ditch the bumpers but, I'd be leaving my hard to find rust free hood open to damage from the slightest bumps.

 

Its not illegal.
Its illegal to purchase it in small quanitites at all and you need a license to purchase it in large quanitities. It's so expensive because manufacture of it was stopped some years ago. When they pull it out of your system they just put it under a vacuum to boil out all the moisture then they just feed back in.

 

does it work at all? If the system is dry then you'd most likely have to replace a few things due to corrosion (if it's dry due to a leak). If the system is charged but it just doesn't blow very cold then you probably just need to take it in to have it serviced (evacuated and put under vacuum). As long as you're not too low on refrigerant it shouldn't cost too much.

A rule of thumb with R12: VERIFY how much they take out of your system. This stuff is like liquid gold. Some places will evacuate the system and then charge you for more refrigerant then they actually ended up putting in.

 

I've always been told that it's illegal and it's been stated that it is down here so I dunno. The compressor is frozen so I don't know anything about the a/c system, by frozen of course I mean that I cannot turn it by hand. I'd probably end up using that vacuum system that you can borrow from the parts store and do it myself anyway, I try to avoid using shops when at all possible.

The only reason I say I want to remove everything is because the compressor is frozen and I know that alone will be over $300 and I can't use it as a core replacement because everyone says the core cannot be frozen.

 

I think im gonna rip my ac out.

 

It's illegal for you to go out and purchase R12 in a canister, yes. But it's not illegal for a licensed A/C shop to carry it for the purpose of servicing systems. So R12 is not something you can do on your own at home. But like WildmaN mentioned there are R12 alternatives that you can use without having to convert your system. I'm not sure if/where you can purchase these though.

I've never been to FL but if the weather there is anything like it is in VA then I'd want an AC system. I was fine without one til I moved out there. Dry heat is no problem, but the humidity was just horrible.

 

I've lived here all my life so I can deal with the heat, hell I made it through this summer with black interior and no a/c. I just found a working a/c compressor on ebay for $10 though, I wonder if I should go for it.

The R134a retrofit kits are very common here, all over the place for $40. I dunno, haha.

 

Sweet, I just found a radiator for $22, I think Im going to jump on that.

yeah so I just found the radiator from a 1983 turbo and shroud for $32 for both, plus shipping. Since my current radiator has cracks and no shroud I really would like to jump on this, it should fit without a problem right? on my 1979 2+2 NA

 

It'll fit.

 

Heat was no problem for me. But it took a while to get used to the humidity. The first summer I spent out there I couldn't even go outside during the day without struggling to breath. I just wasn't used to the humidity. Give my 110 degree dry heat over 85 degrees with 100% humidity any day I guess I adapted though cause when I moved back out here to South Dakota I was constantly having to carry a water bottle around cause I was always feeling dehydrated and thirsty. My body must've gotten used to obtaining moisture just from breathing in that south/eastern humid air

 

Haha, yeah the humidity sucks but, it seems every location had some down sides. Well Im kind of broke at the moment so I might have to hold off on the radiator, shroud and that beautiful pallent fuel rail I want so badly lol.

 

This is getting confusing. I have heard that freeze 12 is illegal and now someone is saying that it's not? I know that if you want to convert from R12 to R134 you have to flush the system, replace the dryer, change the O rings, put the retro fittings (to be able to put the R134 in), and either get a remanufactured or new A/C Compressor (due to the internal seals not being able to handle the R134). I am ready to put the Kid's Z on the road, but need to get the A/C up and running. I have the O rings, retro kit w/R134, dryer and the A/C flushing kit, but can't decide what to do regarding the compressor? Is it legal or not to buy Freeze 12?

 

http://freeze-12.com/

http://members.tripod.com/~jbabs714/autoac.htm

I haven't heard that freeze12 is illegal... and converting to 134a just requires a clean system, changed o-rings, and 134a... no new compressors / dryers / evaps.

 

I wonder if it's a southern thing.