Well, on my ride home the other night, smoke was pouring out of the hood on my 1985 Corvette. I pulled over and opened the hood to find that my A/C compressor clutch was as red as the paint on my car.

Turns out my A/C compressor locked up and now I'm in need of a new one.

Is there a place online where I can get one for a reasonable price?

And also, is there a R134a conversion kit that anyone can recommend?

I may as well convert it since I'll have to take apart half the A/C system to clean out all the compressor guts anyway.

Thanks!

 

Check the Parts for Sale section here and look for See4parts. Pat always seems to be parting out C4's and I've bought a number of parts from him in the past with very good results.

Hope that helps

Paul

 

Hi

Ebay can be your friend

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-C-Compress...item2a3cd51772

To convert from R12 to R134A you need to drain all the oil out of the compressor and replace it with Ester oil, the refrigerant hoses will need to be replaced. The old hoses do not have the barrier as the mid 90's a/c systems had.
Now there is a lot of confusion about this, tests showed the non barrier hoses leaked a lot of refrigerant when R134A was used and damage to the hoses that ended up blocking the orifice tube filter.
Some use the old hoses and say the oil will coat the rubber and create a barrier over time, i did not want to risk it and got new a/c hoses made.

Replace the orifice tube (the white one is the largest so use that)

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~

You need to replace all the rubber O rings and get the green type, remember to dip the o rings in ester oil and then install. Do not over tighten them and be careful not to nick the o rings.

Replace the accumulator/drier and get the screw on fittings for R134A

http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-87-TPI-Co...item58a07e0fa8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retrofit-Fitting-Adapter-Set-R12-R134a-Auto-A-C-/121350600885?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c410f38b5
Once all is fitted you will need to evacuate the system with a vacuum pump and charge with R134A, You only need 80% of the gas charge compared to R12 this is critical.

Then use some dishwashing liquid and water and use a spray bottle to spray this over the fittings and hose joins, look for any bubbles and fix any leaks.

 

The secret to a/c conversions and ANY a/c work is cleanliness !

Sterilize each section of the system. This is a $1200-$1500 "fire-wall forward" job at a shop. The work can be done at home for about $200 in parts.

New dryer $12
compressor $150 reman w/lifetime warranty
new orifice tube $7
O-ring kit $10 (Viton)
new 134-a compatible oil, 2 lbs of gas, and about $300 ransom to rent gauges and a vac pump...
Spend the money on GOOD adaptor fittings ! the $5 set will strip out the threads then you are SCREWED ! New a/c hoses cost MORE than the compressor.

Break EACH section of the system apart under the hood. Blow out each section with high pressure air and some a/c flush.

Use a LOT of time, air and flush in the evap....miles of diffusion there. You MUST get every spec of debris from the dead compressor OUT of the system,....and its scattered everywhere.

Add 1-2 oz oil to the dryer before connecting, 2-3 in the evap, a few drops in the compressor and rotate by HAND 10 revolutions, and the rest of the oil in the condenser. You DO NOT want the compressor to get a mouthful of straight liquid oil....that'll kill it. This is why you spread the 6 or 7 oz around as you assemble and seal up the system...
Evacuate and hold. This is to remove moisture as much as it is air....moisture mixed with 134a causes it to not cool and turn acidic. Do the evacuation !
Charge and enjoy a simple, cheap conversion.
Cleanliness !

 

Also don't forget to adjust the low pressure switch a quarter to half a turn.

 

I recommend you take it to a shop. The last thing you want is for the new compressor to fail and distribute metal shavings throughout the system. It can get very costly when that happens.

 

Some people have done a R134a conversion by themselves, but to do it right requires the proper equipment, the correct parts, and the knowledge.

If the rest of the system is original, it would be a good idea to replace all of the hoses, the dryer and possibly the condenser. A shop will also affix decals to the car that shows the system has been converted to R134a. And with a shop doing the work, you will have a warranty of some sort on parts and labor.

 

I highly advise you, to keep the original R12.

R12 is designed for the stock Ac condenser, hoses, O-rings and compressor. R12 puts out 8*-10* colder air temps than R134a in the same system and once you fill the system, it'll be good for at least 10 years!...






.

 

I've converted a bunch of r12 systems to 134a and they never cool as good.

If ya can, stick with what it was designed to work with, r12.

And as far as compressors, dont buy a used or rebuilt one, the ones I've used only last a year or two. Way better off (and money ahead) buying a new one.

 

When I was searching around for some of the parts I came across this. What do you guys think of it?

https://m.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-air-conditioning-conversion-kit-r134a-1985-1987.html

 

R134a requires a Condenser with several tightly spaced orifices which are more efficient with R134a refrigerant. A Proper R134a conversion needs a condenser designed for R134a...That kit does not include a new condenser...

The two Condensers on the left are designed for R12 and the two Condensers on the right are designed for R134a. Note the Tinier more efficient passageways, which is needed for R134a use.

It's easy to see why the smaller Molecules in the R134a, need the much smaller condenser orifices to remove heat more efficiently...

 

Our 85 is in need of a compressor also. Here is what I've been looking at:

Compressor:
Dryer: