converting air con to new gas stuff

[Jonno]

as title says, how do i do it, what do i need to replace, can i use parts of a newer car etc etc.. ?

[SL/ENUT]

Only professional air con people can do that. You need a license to use the stuff.

[Jonno]

yeh but i thought i could source the parts my self to cut the cost a little??

[VK SL 3800]

You can but the o-rings but you need the AC oil to lubricate them before you put them in, the new style o ring is green (R134a) old style is black? (R12), you can buy assortment packs pretty cheap, about 20 bucks i think the one i bought was and you don't need a licence, i think VK's have three different sizes, two different big ones on the compressor and about 6 little ones the same on all other connections.

[SL/ENUT]

different to what i heard, the gas in the air con. Only trained and licensed people can do it.

[Jonno]

er ok bahaha
how much do u recon itll cost from a guy for him to do it all

[VK SL 3800]

An absolute S**TLOAD! the cost of AC stuff is bs IMO, i got all my hoses remade a new dryer ect for the V6 and it was over $500, and thats at cheap mates rates. And i didnt get it gassed by them. If your hoses are fine just replace the O-rings and receiver dryer (necessary to replace dryer, think of it like a descant bag to absorb moisture in the system). They are cheap ($15 bucks my one was.) And gassing it should be about $150 give or take, makes sure they put in the oil as a lot of lazy blokes wont and you can blow the compressor a couple of months later or sooner. go see an Aircon place like Natrad ect.

[Jonno]

different to what i heard, the gas in the air con. Only trained and licensed people can do it.

And what I heard, is the gas inside it is toxic, u think I'm just gonna release it in my back yard?

[VK SL 3800]

No your not going to release it, its illegal, there was no gas in the system.........

[Jonno]

What are you talking about?

[vkberlina]

Call a mobile aircon guy, he will come out suck the old gas out usually free as they reuse it. (unofficially of course)

Next pull your car appart ready for the new bits, look at fitting a newer model condenser so it will get cold enough, new receiver dryer & new TX valve which is a prick to fit 1/2 the dash has to come out on the passengers side.
Once pulled appart get the aircon guy to fit the new O rings, TX valve, condenser & receiver dryer then gass it up you will need the car to be able to run while it is gassed up and the aircon controls to work, he will set the temp on the thermostat at the same time.

If he fits the parts and it leaks its his fault, dont undo the pipes until he is ready to do it that way no moisture can get in which can also bugger up the pump.

cheers
Scott

[Jonno]

Cheers exactly the info I was looking for, what model commodore/any other car condenser would u reccomend? Thanks Mate

[Darren_L]

early Commodores just used a universal fit condensor, so you just need to go to an A/C workshop and buy the modern equivalent.. The outlets are all in the same spots
I fit one to mine, it's got a finer core than the old style ie more surface area. Fairly much a straight fit, just swap the brackets over.

[VK SL 3800]

Im using the original condensor and im getting nice and cold A/C, do the new ones remove the heat more efficiently?

[vkberlina]

yes, basically the new gas isnt as efficient & requires different pressures to make it work. I cant remember the exact figures but both the high & low pressure side run at different pressure, hence the change of all the gear to make it work properly.
My VK used to run at 0.6deg C at the vent and could get ice forming on the outside of the windscreen on demist. Since fitting the 5L I have had a few issues to work through and will be fitting a much bigger condenser to solve my problem.

scott

[VK SL 3800]

ok , im not using R134A so thats why i dont need a newer condenser and still get nice and cold A/C. With the 202 i had cooling problems with R134A and the condenser would burn your hand to touch but now its only hot on one side and cooler on the other.

[Darren_L]

Im using the original condensor and im getting nice and cold A/C, do the new ones remove the heat more efficiently?

yeah they work more efficiently as the core has significantly more surface area than the old design
as mentioned R134a is not as efficient in cooling as the old R12 gas, so if you do eventually retrofit to 134a (R12 is no longer commonly available) then you'll probably need to upgrade the condensor

[vkberlina]

yeah they work more efficiently as the core has significantly more surface area than the old design
as mentioned R134a is not as efficient in cooling as the old R12 gas, so if you do eventually retrofit to 134a (R12 is no longer commonly available) then you'll probably need to upgrade the condensor

Just to add to this under "normal" conditions there may not be much difference but where it will make a bit difference if on 35+degC days esp hot dry weather it will cool much more, and thats my problem on my VK under "normal" conditions it works quite well but the really hot days when i need it most it only drops by a few degrees, my system is more funky than others as Im running a compressor out of a VN which was designed for the newer gas anyway.

scott

[Darren_L]

yeah I've got a VR compressor, so hoping it improves things.
Early model Commodore A/C wasn't the greatest to begin with, hence I've tried to fit as much as I can to improve it, especially considering R134a isn't as efficient as R12
I'm also going to fit a heater tap to mine (believe it or not VH's didn't have a heater tap fitted!!)

[Gse]

YouTube - Cold Airco
Blown out temp was -6.9 degrees..I did to much R12 in the system..

Thats my aircon same as on VB VC as far as i know its a 1984 Opel Monza as i am from Europe,if i was u:
Buy some R12 in the USA on ebay with a refill hose and fill it ureself,my aircon is working now for over 2 jears like it shut..

I called a aircon company here in Holland and told my story:1984 Opel Monza-Harrison A6 compressor-R12 aircon isnt working can u fix that...there answer was yeah for 1000-2000$ we have it running for u sir,i thought for those 1000/1500kays a year that i drive with that Monza i dont need aircon.

Than bumped into a old classmate of mine who works with aircons and told him my story and he told me:
As long as there is a bit pressure on the system,means,no air from outside gets in the system means no moistures gets into the system,filling it to the right amount of freon shut be okay on those old system,as no system is 100% leak free,and those old cars are pretty well build,just fill it up and give it a go he told me.

Than i searched the inet for R12...and there is plenty of R12 in the USA and some sellers shit it worldwide:

R-12 Refrigerant 14 oz can Case of 12 | eBay

R12 Freon Chargette 14oz cans | eBay

R12, Refrigerant 12 COLLECTOR CAR KIT w/STOP LEAK | eBay

For like 200$ u shut have the aircon going at best capacity.....

Atleast that what i did,and its still going after 2 jears..