I’m in the middle of a body of restoration of my 1980 Corvette. I’ve owned it since 1983. I rebuilt the heater/evaporate box and will be using a stock style accumulator. I have mounted up a new parallel flow condenser and will be installing a new Sanden 508 compressor. I have a barrier hose crimping tool so I can make up my own hoses. This will be a R134a conversion.

Picture #1 questions:
1-should I replace the cycling switch with one from a 84/up?
2-should I replace the orifice with a “blue” Ford version? Does anyone have a part number to share?
3-should I replace the high pressure line that goes from the orifice to the condenser with a stock style aluminum line and just cut off the end of the tube at the the front of the rad cradle and just install a compression fitting and a short aluminum #6 line to the lower cross flow condenser port? I’m not sure if both tubes will be the same diameter. I discarded the stock hp line years ago so I can’t mic the outside diameter.
4-If I decide to make up my own line from the orifice to the condenser can someone tell me what size fitting I need at the orifice connection?
5-is there a adapter I can purchase for the low side charge port to convert to R134a. I guess if I replace the long HP liquid line with a new stock line then I’d need to convert that high side port as well. Do I remove the original schrader cores when installing the port adapters?
6-I think I read the stock high side R12 charge port thread fittings are different on 1978/up cars? Can anyone confirm the size? I threw away the original high side line years ago so I can’t check the fitting size.



Picture #2 questions:
1-I need to convert the outlet tube connection on the accumulator to a #10 hose that will lead to the Sanden 508 compressor. The blue tape on the old accumulator in the picture shows the connection point in question. ICT Billet sells a nice adapter FAC12F10M. Or can I use some kind of conversion crimp fitting that will connect directly to the accumulator line?

 

Re #6, yes they did change the high side fitting size. Probably done to keep mechanics out of trouble keeping them from confusing the high & low sides. Anyway, you can get a brass adapter to fit standard R12 hoses from NAPA or similar parts store for the smaller high side fitting.

As a PS, I personally would not switch to R134a. R12 is still readily available for $30 or so a can.

 

Might want to think about fan operations..u running mechanical with aux oem electric? Then wire it like this
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ss-option.html

if running electric fans think about 3 way switch to run fans and speed based on pressure..

would love to see how you hook up sanden in detail!

 

I’m using a Lingenfelter VSFM-002 controller to provide a PWM signal to the C6 Corvette electric fan mounted in a Dewitts fan shroud. The fan will vary its speed based on engine coolant temperature. A second PWM signal (made with a cheap PWM signal generator) will control the speed of the fan when the a/c compressor is running. A five wire relay will be used to determine which PWM signal reaches the fan.

I’ll be purchasing a Sanden 508 rear hook up compressor (047000-SUR) and a Vintage Air compressor mount bracket (15127-SCA). I mounted a Vintage Air condenser already on the radiator core with my own home made brackets. I studied the Vintage Air brackets design and made my version thicker and stronger. After watching some install videos on YouTube I determined the stock brackets were a bit flimsy.