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A/C Specs - Help Please

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Hunter, Jul 22, 2004.

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  1. Hunter

    Hunter Rookie

    Jul 9, 2004
    3
    #1 Hunter, Jul 22, 2004
    Would anyone be able to help me with what the factory specs (capacities)are on filing the a/c for a 1995 348 Spider. I want to be safe then sorry. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Hunt
     
  2. Ferrari_tech

    Ferrari_tech Formula 3

    Jul 28, 2003
    1,527
    UK
    Full Name:
    Malcolm W
    #2 Ferrari_tech, Jul 22, 2004
    Hunt,

    Capacity is 950 - 1000 grams or 2.1 - 2.2 lbs of Freon.

    Your car would originally had Freon R12, which (in Europe anyway) has been replaced with Freon R134a. If you are switching gasses you are best advised to replace the expansion valve, the filter/drier bottle and replace the oil in the compressor (which holds 150cc or 0.25 pints of Agip TER60)
     
  3. Hunter

    Hunter Rookie

    Jul 9, 2004
    3
    #3 Hunter, Jul 22, 2004
    Thanks MW, that's what I was looking for! It was R-12 but it is now R-134, would the amount still be the same for either gases?
     
  4. Ferrari_tech

    Ferrari_tech Formula 3

    Jul 28, 2003
    1,527
    UK
    Full Name:
    Malcolm W
    #4 Ferrari_tech, Jul 22, 2004
    Yes exactly the same
     
  5. ric1241

    ric1241 Rookie

    Mar 6, 2004
    25
    #5 ric1241, Jul 22, 2004
    Many sources indicate that 80 to 85% by weight is the optimum amount of R-134 when converting a system from R-12.
     
  6. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    #6 Verell, Jul 22, 2004
    Optimum R134a fill for most conversions is ~0.8 of the R12 fill. Thus the R134a capacity should be:
    2.2 Lbs R12 x 16 oz/lb = 35.2 oz.
    35.2 oz x 0.8 = 28 oz.

    DO NOT go over about 90% of the R12 capacity, or you'll be risking sucking
    liquid refrigerant into your compressor which can ruin it.

    It's better to be a bit under max charge (usually will be colder) unless your
    evaporator starts freezing up. You have an optimum charge when the temperature between inlet & outlet of the evaporator coil is 5 degrees F.

    I'd start with 24oz (2- 12 oz cans) of R134a and see how that cools.
    Then very carefully add an ounce at a time, let things stabilize.

    Make sure you've got a large fan blowing into the radiator when filling so
    the condensor coil is near room temp rathar than extremely hot.

    Also, DO NOT TRUST the gauges that come with the 'conversion kits'. They're cheap & untrustworthy. Use a real A/C compound gauge set.

    Also, you Federal Law says you MUST change the fill/test fittings to R134a ones & relable the system or be in violation of federal law. Shops don't dare touch a system that's been converted w/o this being done as they can't risk contaminating their filling/recovery machine with an unknown/wrong refrigerant. (Their suppliers will shut them off if it happens!)

    The 348's system is very similar to a SANDEN system. Here's a link to their R134a conversion procedure:
    http://www.sanden.com/support/RETRO.html
     
  7. Ferrari_tech

    Ferrari_tech Formula 3

    Jul 28, 2003
    1,527
    UK
    Full Name:
    Malcolm W
    #7 Ferrari_tech, Jul 23, 2004
    Hunter,

    ric1241 and Verell are correct, about 80% - 85% of R134a gas, sorry my mistake.
     

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