AC Compressor Leak
 

I am in the process of converting to R134, pulled the Compressor to change the oil and noticed that the lower section had been leaking, and there is no oil to drain from the inlet/oulet ports. What are your thoughts, try and rebuild with a replacement seal, (the bearing in clutch seems fine), or replace with a new or reman unit? This is in a 1982 with original compressor. Preference on brand of replacement unit? Estimated cost?

Re: AC Compressor Leak (jbonness)
 

If you haven't already done so, go to archives and check for air conditioning, lots of info there, I am researching that upgrade too.

Re: AC Compressor Leak (jbonness)
 

Suggest you attempt to repair your otherwise working compressor, rather than go the rebuild/remanufactured route..........Lots of members have reported problems with the rebuilt/reman. units. I know many A/C shops around here won't even mess with installation of a rebuilt/reman. compressor due to the many problems they've had with the reliability of these units.

Re: AC Compressor Leak (john's '81 mouse)
 

I replaced my rapidly failing r-4 with a new delco from gmpartsdirect.com for ~240 bucks. If you can afford it, it's the only way to be sure you only do it once.

Re: AC Compressor Leak (jbonness)
 

Many of the R4 compressors leak out oil as evidenced by the oil stains
on the insides of hoods of 1978-82 corvettes. In some cases it
works thru the fiberglass and bubbles the paint.
It may be that since the compressor is original, over time the
oil just leaked out and when the system was recharged each time,
no additional oil was added.
If I was replacing the compressor, preference is to stay with original
so I would purchase a new GM compressor since they are still
available. Around 1980 they switched over to metric mounting
fittings for the compressor so you will most likely need the model
that has the metric fittings.


[Modified by mark79,80, 8:07 PM 8/22/2002]