69 Vette has A/C again
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 925
Likes: 200
From: TX
69 Vette has A/C again
Decided to try to get A/C going in the Vette I bought 8 months ago. Previous owner said he has not tried it in 40 years!!
Pulled a vacuum
Would not hold vacuum
Put all new seals in A6 compressor. It really was not hard. $22. A little blood too removing compressor.
Put new green o-rings in all points I could reach without removing hood.
Now she holds a vacuum.
Put some freon in. Enough to leak check. No leaks. Put some more in.
I find low side pressure goes to vacuum and high side under 100 psi.
Figure there is a block and put in new expansion valve. $58. Could not blow through old expansion valve. Encouraging.
And new receiver/drier from Zip. Like original. Another $58
Charged with 3 pounds R12. Its now koool inside!!
I encourage anyone to try and get their old a/c going and stick with R12!
Love this car.
VERYSOON
Pulled a vacuum
Would not hold vacuum
Put all new seals in A6 compressor. It really was not hard. $22. A little blood too removing compressor.
Put new green o-rings in all points I could reach without removing hood.
Now she holds a vacuum.
Put some freon in. Enough to leak check. No leaks. Put some more in.
I find low side pressure goes to vacuum and high side under 100 psi.
Figure there is a block and put in new expansion valve. $58. Could not blow through old expansion valve. Encouraging.
And new receiver/drier from Zip. Like original. Another $58
Charged with 3 pounds R12. Its now koool inside!!
I encourage anyone to try and get their old a/c going and stick with R12!
Love this car.
VERYSOON
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 968
Likes: 122
From: Lighthouse Point FL
Getting ready to do mine. Not looking forward to it as there isn't a whole lot of room for my big hands with the 427 and smog stuff crammed in there. I did discover that one of the two main AC hoses is cracked clear through. I think that hose is actually a 2 hose combo with a mounting block. It's expensive and I haven't seen one for the '69 that fits right.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 925
Likes: 200
From: TX
I did not remove the poa valve. After lots of study online I decided not to disturb that item except I did put in a new Schrader valve. Figured a frozen evaporator would be a welcome problem!! heehee!
But if you wanted to remove it and have it checked out it looks about the same difficulty as the expansion valve. I had the old expansion valve out and new one in in less than 15 minutes. Did not want to expose the new receiver/dryer to an open system any longer than necessary.
My main concern was with the condenser. But it didn't leak so I rolled the dice on whether it was stopped up somehow. Pressures are textbook so its okay. I would advise anyone doing this to replace the expansion valve along with the receiver/dryer. its easier to do than the receiver and its about the same cost. Main leak in the system was the usual suspect, the old compressor shaft seal.
As to charging, I put 1.5 pounds R12 in and let the system cool down and sit overnight. Next morning a put a fan blowing on the condenser and radiator and the next 1.5 pounds went in easy at about 1500 rpm.
Ccccold here in Texas!!
VS
But if you wanted to remove it and have it checked out it looks about the same difficulty as the expansion valve. I had the old expansion valve out and new one in in less than 15 minutes. Did not want to expose the new receiver/dryer to an open system any longer than necessary.
My main concern was with the condenser. But it didn't leak so I rolled the dice on whether it was stopped up somehow. Pressures are textbook so its okay. I would advise anyone doing this to replace the expansion valve along with the receiver/dryer. its easier to do than the receiver and its about the same cost. Main leak in the system was the usual suspect, the old compressor shaft seal.
As to charging, I put 1.5 pounds R12 in and let the system cool down and sit overnight. Next morning a put a fan blowing on the condenser and radiator and the next 1.5 pounds went in easy at about 1500 rpm.
Ccccold here in Texas!!
VS
