I'm doing a LS2 conversion and have the body off. Before I put it back on the frame I am doing as much as I can in the engine compartment; repair small cracks in the firewall, clean/paint, etc. I have the AC box out and am going to clean it and rebuild the AC if required.

When I bought the car as a project w/o the motor, the owner said that the AC had not been run for years and the AC hoses were cut. In the extra parts box he gave me were a new heater core and AC condenser, so I'm going to replace the heater core (I plan to strip the interior so this is't really an extra hassle) and install the new condenser and new hoses. I'm using a mid 80's F-body compressor due to the conversion. I tested the blower motor and it works.

My questions;

Can the evaporator be checked for functionality while I have it? What are the chances it is "bad"?

There was oil in the VIR(?) can. Can I assume it is okay? Can it be checked while it's out?

What do I have to do to convert it to R-134, or do I have to? If not, what's the availability of R-12 nowadays?

What else should I check or replace while I have it out and everything is accessible? I plan to get a AC/heater box seal kit from Ecklers unless there is a better vendor recommended.

Thanks

 

I'll reply to a couple of questions and at least bump you back to the top. There are some really strong A/C folks on the forum and hopefully one or more will jump in.

For seal kits, I think Ecklers is fine but you'll probably save a buck or two going wwith Willcox, a forum sponsor. Probably the same parts too. For quality, I'm always partial to Doc Rebuild for these kinds of parts.

Regarding the oil in your VIR, it will not be compatible with R134. At the very least, you want to flush it with one of the various solvents intended for this purpose. Again, at the very least, you should change the VIR valve. Many will recommend that you do away with it for a more efficient system. The drier will have to be replaced too as the dessicant will be shot.

You can still get R12 here and there but it's expensive. There are also various restrictions on getting it but they aren't all that hard to overcome.

 

Thanks. Is that all that needs to be done to convert to R-134, just flushing the system with a solvent? Or do seals need to be replaced, etc.? How about the compressor I already have?

 

I just went through this whole thing on my 75. The PO took all of the A/C heat stuff out and tossed it in the trash. I started getting all the parts together and had most of them. I did a 180 and went for a Vintage Air set up. In the middle of the install and it is going really easy. It does away with that huge evaporator box entirely for a nice clean and roomy under hood. The heat A/C under dash unit is made in Italy. It is really compact. Haven't done the hoses that everybody says are a pain but it looks like it will be ok. Think about it.

 

The VIR will have to be either replaced or rebuilt.
The rebuild kit consists of new O-rings and a new desiccant bag. As long as you can get the four little bolts off of the VIR without rounding the heads the rebuild is pretty easy, but they are often on very tight and painted in place.

Several companies offer VIR eliminator kits which are supposed to make the system work better with R-134A.
I am still running the VIR on mine, but I am not very happy with cooling capability and the high pressures it builds up. I will be installing the VIR eliminator kit the next time I have the system apart.

 

I just spoke with a local AC shop and the owner was up on what I'm doing. I'll take all the components to him for inspection and test. He says that he can replace the VIR and still run R-12. He doesn't feel R-134 cools our older cars very well. He'll make new hoses for me, too. FYI, I'm running a mid-80s F-body A-4 type compessor.

 

Well, I have thought about it and the main thing is that my project is, of course, WAY over budget (fancy that!!). Also, I'm running a mid-80s A-4 type compressor on custom AC brackets from Custom Image Corvettes that are made for the LS conversion. I don't know that the Vintage Air kit compressor will fit the LS conversion brackets.

 

Vintage air makes brackets for just about anything.give them a call.

 

I did and they do make a bracket for the LS2 conversion.