So since my '78 will be moving to Arizona to live with me eventually, it's getting A/C, no two ways about it. The closest place in Tucson to where I live right now that even touches R12 is close to an hour drive, so any time I would need it checked, serviced, etc., it would be a 2 hour round trip :shock: So I'm planning on R134, but I'm wondering if there is anything else I should use besides the stock setup. I did some reading on conversions... from simply dumping "R12-compatible" refrigerant in, to evacuating the system, making sure everything seals, changing the accumulator, and having a shop fill it instead of using those cans from WalMart.
I'm starting from scratch, meaning I have no hard parts besides the A/C firewall box and the wiring... I don't even have a heater core or blower fan :lol: My question is: are there parts different from the stock evaporator/condenser/accumulator I would need? I read about r12 and 134 using different oils, so I would get a brand new accumulator... but could I get the evaporator/condenser from a junkyard? Those are pretty pricey new - a quick guess on parts looking online is $240 without the compressor. I checked car-part.com for local parts, and the evaporator, condenser, and compressor together added up to less than $150. I also just saw something on RockAuto.com about orifice tubes for different climates... normal (under 105º) and severe (over 105º) - Tucson's typically hovered around 100º+ during the day during the hot season, would the severe climate tube be needed, or are we talking more "living on the equator" severe?
I'm starting from scratch, meaning I have no hard parts besides the A/C firewall box and the wiring... I don't even have a heater core or blower fan :lol: My question is: are there parts different from the stock evaporator/condenser/accumulator I would need? I read about r12 and 134 using different oils, so I would get a brand new accumulator... but could I get the evaporator/condenser from a junkyard? Those are pretty pricey new - a quick guess on parts looking online is $240 without the compressor. I checked car-part.com for local parts, and the evaporator, condenser, and compressor together added up to less than $150. I also just saw something on RockAuto.com about orifice tubes for different climates... normal (under 105º) and severe (over 105º) - Tucson's typically hovered around 100º+ during the day during the hot season, would the severe climate tube be needed, or are we talking more "living on the equator" severe?