1985 ac condensor
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
1985 ac condensor
My AC condenser plugged up on my 85 vette. Shopping around I have noticed they are hard to find. I did however find one that is demonically correct except it is 1" thick and mine is 1 3/4" thick.
With the new technology now days and I am going to be using R134 is this going to be an issue?
I am replacing the whole AC system at this time as well and doing a flush on the system.
With the new technology now days and I am going to be using R134 is this going to be an issue?
I am replacing the whole AC system at this time as well and doing a flush on the system.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
R-134a is less efficient than R-12. Usually they make the condenser and evaporator THICKER to compensate. There are some that use a different flow pattern so maybe it's OK.
How do you know the condenser is plugged? What plugged it and where did that come from? It's a sealed system so I don't understand how this could happen unless the system got low on freon and destroyed the compressor.
How do you know the condenser is plugged? What plugged it and where did that come from? It's a sealed system so I don't understand how this could happen unless the system got low on freon and destroyed the compressor.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
R-134a is less efficient than R-12. Usually they make the condenser and evaporator THICKER to compensate. There are some that use a different flow pattern so maybe it's OK.
How do you know the condenser is plugged? What plugged it and where did that come from? It's a sealed system so I don't understand how this could happen unless the system got low on freon and destroyed the compressor.
How do you know the condenser is plugged? What plugged it and where did that come from? It's a sealed system so I don't understand how this could happen unless the system got low on freon and destroyed the compressor.
So I am hinging on the safw side and replacing the entire ac system. That way there wont be any issues later on.
Hope this makes sense.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kingman AZ
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
Try a used one from a Corvette recycling yard. I like www.vette2vette.com
I would not buy a used one as you dont know what condition they are in. Even after flushing them you could still get some crud coming out of it and cause problems with the rest of the system.
I am going all new and doing it right.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The low side normally has something in the area of 20 to 50 PSI -- "low" means low pressure. The only time the pressure will equalize is when the engine (and the compressor) are not running.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
New condenser is here
When I tested mine I took the condenser out of the car and I chucked air to it. It was 90% plugged. It did NOT have any other lines hooked to it and no orific constricting the flow of air. The compressor was still good and I found no metal or teflon in the orific.
Anyway it is all new now and I will be letting it sit tonight and checking to see if the vacuum goes down. If not I will finish it u tomorrow.
Anyway it is all new now and I will be letting it sit tonight and checking to see if the vacuum goes down. If not I will finish it u tomorrow.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
85 condensor
I had a condenser made just like my old one. It came from AC Global in South Gate, CA They make radiators and condensers. I sent them mime and sent me a duplicate. It fit like a charm. The gal I talked to was Leslie she was very nice and they had it to me in 1 week. Her number is 323-569-9844.
I have attached a couple of pictures of the new unit,hopefully they attached anyway.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 875
Likes: 76
I received my new condenser yesterday and installed it tonight, I pulled a vacuum and seems to be holding. I will check it in the morning and finish it up if it has no leaks.
I had a condenser made just like my old one. It came from AC Global in South Gate, CA They make radiators and condensers. I sent them mime and sent me a duplicate. It fit like a charm. The gal I talked to was Leslie she was very nice and they had it to me in 1 week. Her number is 323-569-9844.
I have attached a couple of pictures of the new unit,hopefully they attached anyway.
I had a condenser made just like my old one. It came from AC Global in South Gate, CA They make radiators and condensers. I sent them mime and sent me a duplicate. It fit like a charm. The gal I talked to was Leslie she was very nice and they had it to me in 1 week. Her number is 323-569-9844.
I have attached a couple of pictures of the new unit,hopefully they attached anyway.
Probably would have been better to go with the piccolo design that was also used before the change over in 90. As the piccolo design is more efficient especially if you go to R134A.
Mine has the piccolo design. I have it out and ran A/C flush fluid through it with compressed air. Not much if any trash came out of it.
Though you probably could have had them make it in a "parallel" design which would have been a lot better with R134A. I think the 94-96 or so changed to a parallel design. Only problem is you can't flush trash out of a parallel style, only oil residue.