NJ A/C work on 348 with R12

My shop just switched mine over-Jim at Pocono Sports Car. He is the 348 guru (amongst other F-car models)of the NY/NJ/PA area. It was a painless conversion that was relatively inexpensive and the a/c works great. Give him a call.

 

IMHO - you really want to keep it R12 if possible. My AC guy tells me there is no longer an R12 shortage. It's recaptured and recycled from everywhere, so it's still readily available to those who are licensed. If you find someone who is licensed, he'll have no problem maintaining the system for you.

It's not just a matter of evacuating the lubricants (which are incompatible from R12 to R134a), there's more to it. In reality, R134a in a system designed for R12 will cool less effectively than R12. The R134a is less efficient, so you'll notice that systems that are designed to use R134a come with heftier components, larger, more numerous fans, etc.... If you put R134a in an R12 system, it will cool, but it can't ever get as cold as it would have with R12 (unless you take steps to accommodate it (like extra fans, evaporator, etc..). R134a is also prone to leak in systems that were designed to contain R12 so you could find yourself needing to refill much more frequently.

 

If you make the conversion, it would make an interesting post. I'd be curious what you needed to do to convert and how it performed afterwards. Best of luck with whichever direction you chose!

 

I have had it done on my TR and my 348. Both times the costs were relatively low with only a simple conversion kit containing a few valves that were necessary. I did not notice any difference in the "cold factor" they both were ice cold. As far a longevity/leaks, all seems to be holding up very well. IMO, it is worth having it converted by someone who knows what they are doing as the low cost didn't warrant me learning HVAC.

 

In my country (Portugal) R12 is illegal because its environmentally very unfriendly.

 

my late production 348 spider had R134a from the factory... not sure what parts in the system are diff if any.....

 

Another NJ boy here. To do a proper r-134 conversion, the system needs to be properly flushed, the receiver-dryer replaced with an R-134 compatible receiver-dryer, all the "O" rings replaced with the upgraded R-134 compatible ones, the compressor drained and refilled with the R-134 compatible oil and then draw a vacuum and see if it holds for at least one-half hour. As R-12 is more efficient at absorbing heat, the condenser will not be as efficient at removing that heat as a properly designed condenser for R-134. Beyond that, it does not really matter if you are doing the work on a Chevrolet Vega or Ferrari-same pieces in each system.
Therefore, if R-12 is available at a reasonable cost(BTW, be sure it is REALLY R-12!! in the can), stay with it and avoid the system flushing, etc. that should be done on a "proper" R-134 conversion. This statement assumes there was no compressor breakdown, allowing metal and other particulates to enter the system. ALSO, if the system has failed to such a degree that air has entered the system you should also replace the receiver/dryer, as it's media has been comprimised.

 

Being in the refrigeration industry since college graduation I would do the following: If you just need to add some refrigerant because it is not cooling well enough I would find an A/C guy that has (or can get) some R12. You probably won't need but a few ounces (~12 or so) to top it off. I luckily still have some R12 for mine. At the next engine-out have the thing converted to R134a, because as some have mentioned to do it right you need to drain the oil from the compressor, replace the filter/drier and any O-rings or seals that are in there. It will be relatively easy at the engine out as most shops remove the compressor with the engine sub-frame.