air conditioning - circa 1968 | FerrariChat

air conditioning - circa 1968

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Bryanp, May 3, 2004.

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  1. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,825
    Santa Fe, NM
    I've been avoiding it for years, but it is time I got my AC working in the queen mother so that at least my right knee stays cool. The PO had run it w/ no oil in the compressor . . .

    So I have a new compressor but don't know anything about the relative health of the rest of the system. I know, at a minimum, I need to get a new dryer.

    I have a lot of questions - Is the legal freon replacement, R134a, the only alternative?
    If I go with R134a, does the expansion valve need to be replaced before the system is re-charged and pressurized?
    Do all the seals in the system need to be changed out if the last cooling agent was freon?
    I have read that R134a is hard on compressors because it requires higher pressure, and that some folks swear by someting called Duracool. Is the part about the compressors true? Is Duracool the panacea or just snake-oil?

    Does the group have any other advice/suggestions re: getting a defunct AC system running again? I understand that these systems in 1960s Ferraris are not very good even when they are running properly - that there is inadequate cfm. I'll address that problem another day - for now I just need to get some cool air blowing since we're on the verge of our mid-atlantic/VietNam weather.

    thanks in advance
    I'm posting this in Vintage as well
     
  2. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,130
    Savannah
    my .02 i have redone the a/c systems on many 70 to 73 Z28's and trans ams. yes they are not fcars but they are still "old". i ALWAYS have found severe corrosion inside the lines, condeser , evaporator ect. every seal must be replaced when going from r12 to 134a. the oils in the 2 sytems are not compatible and form acid that will eat the system from the inside out. cheers to you for fixing the car, on the GM cars with cheap, available parts its a pain in the rear, on a fcar i hope you have a good idea where to get everything from. schrader valve is the number one source of a leak or faulty system. my 308 with the bloody nose is going to need all new stuff so i hope i have what it takes!!!
     
  3. Tinbender

    Tinbender Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 13, 2004
    327
    Raleigh,Lake Lure,NC
    Full Name:
    Terry W. Phillips
    You can still use the original R-12 freon it is just much more expensive than the R134a but you will not have to replace everything else.
     
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,406
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    The components on Fcars are York, for the most part. My vendor said Pcars use them too. Single pulley clutches are a b___ to find. Only REAL tractors use 'em!! The stock clutch is a dealer only part, not cheap.

    Mine was accidentally thrown away by a rebuild shop. Sigh.

    "Hand me another one of them, from back there" ZZ Top
     
  5. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,406
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Yea, they smuggle that R12 now up north, 'cause it's better profit than cocaine!!!
     
  6. 4re gt4

    4re gt4 Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2002
    2,279
    Roseburg, OR
    Full Name:
    Hans E. Hansen
    BTW, there is nothing "illegal" about using R12 as a refrigerant in cars originally built for them. Virtually all 'legit' A/C shops and most car dealers have the necessary equipment, etc. to 'legally' handle it.
     
  7. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    85,600
    Texas!
  8. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    Search the old Fchat tech Q&A archives.
    There are a few vy good(imho) threads. Tifosi1 & I were redoing our A/Cs about the same time. I posted quite a few links to related sites as well.

    I'd have stayed with R12 if I'd have the option.
    However, as part of my agreement with the dealer, the A/C was fixed prior to delivery. His wrench jerker decided to do the R134a conversion & went ahead(sigh).


    R12 is still legitimately available to licensed shops. The price varies as it's all 'recycled' & the number of cars going into salvage yards w/R12 still in them is declining fast. Last spring it was about $65/lb, went to $85 by end of June(peak demand).
     
  9. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,675
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    Here's the older post by Tofosi:

    (By the way, are ~1968 compressors York also?)

    -------------------------------------------

    In my case it was a clogged expansion valve. the drier had gone bad
    > and dumped everything into the expansion valve. Below is what I did.
    > The drier I used is a
    > SCS/Frigette
    > Part #
    > 207 805
    > XH9 DESICCANT
    > WWW.scsfrigette.com
    > Purchased at a local ACdelco AC shop for $49.00
    >
    > Expansion valve
    > Murray Climate Control
    > PART#
    > MRY 38683
    > THP AC3801C
    > UPC 9636138683
    > NO WEB SITE THAT I CAN FIND
    > Purchased at O'Riely Auto Parts for $26.00
    >
    > High and Low side 134A connectors,
    > high side $6.99,
    > Low Side $15.00.
    > Purchased at NAPA
    > DON'T buy the Aluminum cheap ones.
    >
    > 3 cans of 134A Wal-Mart $4.88 each I only used 2
    >
    > 134A O rings Assorted $5.99 Autozone
    >
    > 2 8oz cans of ester oil
    >
    > I changed all O rings. took out the 2 Schratter valves and replaced them
    > with the 134A connectors.
    >
    > I used an Aquarium air hose to drain the oil from the compressor. I
    > siphoned it out, got about 8 OZ. added the ester until it would not take
    > any more about 11OZ. Manual call for 330CC or 11OZ. I used a turkey baster
    > to add the oil to the compressor.
    >
    > Drier remember not to open or connect it to the system until you are ready
    > to Evacuate.
    >
    > Make sure the oil drier did not dump any Desiccant in to the hose going to
    > the expansion valve. this is what killed me.
    >
    > Yesterday to was 93degrees here in traffic I got 60 degrees high way 50
    > degrees. all reading from the lower vent.
    >
    > This evening 83 degrees, 86 heat index 40 Degrees at the lower vent.
    >
    > I have noticed one thing. Before my car ran at right below 195 on the
    > highway, traffic right over 195, no more than the width of the needle. Now
    > highway the needle is mid way between the 195 and the next hash mark. In
    > traffic it stays on the hash mark. This mark is between 195 and 250.
    >
    > I will double check the car tomorrow to see if I have developed an over
    > heating problem that may be unrelated to the AC. I did get a little air
    out
    > of the front radiator when I got home tonight. I'm going to drive it
    > without the AC on.
    >
    > Per Neville in England I'm going to over fill my expansion tank. It's been
    > about 2,000 miles since I have done this. When I had this over heating
    > problem before, over filling fixed it. It cooked off what it didn't need
    > and has been find ever since until now.
    >
    > OF course I am not responsible for anything that might go wrong with your
    > car in this process. This is only what I did to make it happen. And to all
    > your Ferrari Techs out there, please excuse my ignorance if I have said
    > anything that sounds stupid.. Thank God I got some common sense from my
    > father. I wish he were still here with me to take a drive.
    >
    > Kelly Vince
    > Do you have the Passion?
    > Tofosi
     
  10. WaltP

    WaltP Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,512
    Cape Canaveral/Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Walt P
    RB 276 is a direct "drop in" for R-12. I like it.
     
  11. atheyg

    atheyg Guest

    There is Freeze 12 a replacement for R12 at less than 1/2 the cost, compatable with r12.

    Dump the York get a Sanden replacement, less hp to run and more efficient.
     
  12. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,825
    Santa Fe, NM
    thanks, Smiles - I searched; but not the archives . . . my 1968 compressor is a 2 cyl. York

    DrTax - great link on Griffith.
    thanks all!
     
  13. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
  14. bazzis

    bazzis Karting

    Nov 5, 2003
    217
    Sarratt, Herts
    I have all the air-con parts from a 1968 365 GT, they were taken out when the car was restored and never replaced. I have the huge!! compressor,pipes,and what looks like a very thin radiator, if these are of any use please E-mail me, unfortunately. I live in the UK......................
     
  15. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,825
    Santa Fe, NM
    thanks, guys, for the various offers (and to Adam for your PM), but notice the original date of this thread - I solved my AC issue in the summer of 2004! It blows cold, just not a lot of volume - but it puts a big enough dent in our humid DC summers that my driving season has significantly grown.
     

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