[I put a link here but it was blocked by the FC nannies. You can google it....] And, since you asked: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/dave-helms-upgrades-question-on-value-cost.505511/ The vocal peanut gallery here pretty much ran Dave off.....
Cheers man, I remember Dave’s other parts he used to sell, just didn’t remember the fuel hoses . Thanks for the link, I appreciate it. It’s a shame he was run off the forum, a lot of other old friends suffered the same fate. Have a great weekend Jim, thanks mate.
I have locks! Little things matter... Also a new window gasket installed. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T1SsN-G1aCs
Congrats!! I remember some years after he bought his car, @GrigioGuy and I were chatting and I mentioned that my power locks had quit working. His priceless reaction was “these cars have power locks?”
My time machine is in PIECES! Went over to the O'Gara shop today as they tore into it. Mostly good news and nothing I wasn't expecting. The car needed a lot of routine service. Its pretty clear its been years and years. We've found a few more little issues so we are replacing all the water hoses as well all tank fuel hoses. The oil leak seems to have been a small one from the front cam cover that was hard to see until it was removed. Stacks and stacks of new parts going in but overall its just a lot of TLC stuff. The good news is none of the parts are back-ordered, even the new AC compressor (which makes the old York look like a boat anchor). The clock was sent out for reburishing. They had a new McLaren Autura "Hybird" they were working on next to my car. Old school vs new school side by side. Amazing differences in technology for 35 years. So, hopefully sometime around mid Dec I'll be driving it again and going back to the 80's. I really miss it BUT I'm going to feel a lot more confident driving it knowing all this maintenance is done. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yep! Total conversion. There's a kit that has everything you need. My mechanic said he did two 328's and one Testarossa using it. The only thing he worries about are leaks as the molecules are smaller. But he'll dye it and see if there is any other o rings that need to be replaced. It did have gas in it and was blowing cold when the compressor died.
"GT Car parts upgrade" for the AC compressor (R134) is a good choice; smaller and more efficient. My GTB has leaked freon since new (1978) and it has to be replaced every year. I don't know where it goes because after installing the new compressor, my guy went through the entire system, got it to blow the coldest air ever (46-47 degrees inside the central vent opening) and then pressure tested for a week with no measured leaks. Who knows where it goes because I've had it dyed up the wazoo...but annual freon charging is cheaper than the exorbitant price the nearest California Ferrari dealer wants to "fix" it. GT Car parts upgrade.
I have A/C compressor envy. I will definitely go that route next time I do the belts. My current system needs a recharge once a year. I assume the R134 is seeping through the original hoses. I know that on old Porsche 911's, the style that was used would slowly leak the R134 and new style hoses were needed to keep a charge.
Scuderia Rampante Innovation has the marine grade fuel hoses for modern fuel. Superior quality for safety So good you replaced the most expensive part first, I like your economy But the compressor is not the big problem and not the big solution. You need to tune the system with the fill. State change from gas-liquid and back is much mofe importanat than flow rate. Do not think of this as your cooling system, you are now controlling states and pressures in AC. This one is linear. Measure the superheat across evaporator and tune the condensor's subcooling to supply the heat exchange. The leaks will come through the midde of any old, dry hose not just O-rings. Also, there are only 4 hoses in our TXV systems, modern 7 layer barrier hose is perfect for R-134a with no leaks like your Honda Many mechanic love to change AC compressor for nice $2k bill but in one year problems returned. so sad
Everything you need? I'm a skeptic that hopes you are not getting rip off with flashy compressor, operational valves and nothing else Is the high pressure cutoff limit of the switch now above 325 psi? perhps 365 psi? You live in Vegas and when ambient temps rise above 105F your R-134a needs to use higher pressures to acheive R12 type cooling. If you are using an old R12 cutoff switch and the days are very hot then your AC will cut off too soon and you will be hot. Your system needs to run higher pressure for R134a than R12
Extra pressure doesn’t help. The compressor is there to raise the pressure to the condensation point of the gas. That pressure, for either refrigerant, is well below the high pressure cut-off switch. The switch is just there in case the expansion valve jams and the system wants to explode.
Does it cost $2000 to change compressor, valves and drier then fill the charge, perhaps? I can see the old compressor could HydroLock when too much oil. After 40 years and 5 compressors, if nobody cleaned flush the system then much oil can find its way
I'm not sure. But I know modernizing the system will make it much more efficient and lighter and then make recharging it easier. So I consider this an upgrade. It would not surprise me if the system was rarely used going back a long way. But it did blow cold air for maybe 5 minutes before seizing. I just feel better putting in new stuff when I can.
