Need to repair the Air Conditioning system on my 72 Mach 1. For resale down the road, would it be better to keep the original style/type of AC or upgrade everything to the new R134 type Freon. I am planning on replacing compressor/ condenser/ dryer; overall price for the two different systems are similar with the exception of the cost of Freon. Any thoughts?
If the car is a rare or exceptional original piece keep it stock. If it's a run of the mill Mach1 that there are thousands of and a Driver? By all means put a later 134 system simply for the ease of maintenance and repair. JTS 71 Mach1
(08-02-2012, 01:10 PM)JTS71 Mach1 Wrote: [ -> ]If the car is a rare or exceptional original piece keep it stock. If it's a run of the mill Mach1 that there are thousands of and a Driver? By all means put a later 134 system simply for the ease of maintenance and repair. JTS 71 Mach1
I agree. Apparently you can't buy the old Freon unless you have a license to handle it. If your rebuilding the system anyway, go with the 134.
You are correct on the R12 freon. You must be liscensed to purchase it. And it can be expensive as they haven't produced it since I believe 1992. I can't remember the exact date. I used to know all this stuff. Man it sucks getting old. JTS 71 Mach1
Id keep it original with R-12.
The R-12 is way better at cooling than the R-134.
Yes its expensive but will blow cold fog at you on any hot day. Also on the refrigerant charts the R-12 is the best....
It is all in what you want really.
You can take the 409 training online for cheap and then buy the R-12 Freon on craigslist as long as it is unopened.
Just a different perspective.....as this is what I am doing.
You can rinse out your old compressor with Acetone at least three times. Flush out all coolant lines as well with it. Be sure to use the correct refrigerant oil for the R-12!! and use the correct o-rings too.
If you decide to use R-134 you can get a new Sanden compressor, new (green) o-rings, the correct mineral oil for the compressor and you are in business with R-134.
Note: the R-134 will work on the old compressora as well once they are completely cleaned out and compressor oils changed.
Pull a good deep vacuum on the entire system and check for leak down etc..Then charge it up and get cool.
Good luck
(08-04-2012, 07:12 AM)Masterblaster7212 Wrote: [ -> ]Id keep it original with R-12.
The R-12 is way better at cooling than the R-134.
Yes its expensive but will blow cold fog at you on any hot day. Also on the refrigerant charts the R-12 is the best....
It is all in what you want really.
You can take the 409 training online for cheap and then buy the R-12 Freon on craigslist as long as it is unopened.
Just a different perspective.....as this is what I am doing.
You can rinse out your old compressor with Acetone at least three times. Flush out all coolant lines as well with it. Be sure to use the correct refrigerant oil for the R-12!! and use the correct o-rings too.
If you decide to use R-134 you can get a new Sanden compressor, new (green) o-rings, the correct mineral oil for the compressor and you are in business with R-134.
Note: the R-134 will work on the old compressora as well once they are completely cleaned out and compressor oils changed.
Pull a good deep vacuum on the entire system and check for leak down etc..Then charge it up and get cool.
Good luck
You can still upgrade to a modern compressor ( Sanden ) that will use R-12 . My personal opinon upgrade , the old compressors were very heavy and not as effecent . You can always replace the sanden with the old unit if you have to.
I agree with everyone else,
I thnk the new style compressor's run smoother and are easier on fuel
and keep the h/p where it dose the most good.
just don't throw the old system away.
Here I have used 416a,A drop in refrig.,don't need to change oil.and runs same op as 12.
Unless you are doing concours shows go modern , even if you decide to seel tell the new owner what you did , give him the old parts and let him change out if he wants to. I do not believe it would effect the car value much , if at all.
That's a tough one I guess it would depend on how your going to use the car. If it's just for resale I'd leave it stock. If your planning on keeping it and you live in an area where temps make enjoying the car without AC then by all means modernize it.
If you have access to R12 at a reasonable cost, and plenty of it, more than just enough for one charge, then leave it as an R12 system with original A/C components. If you don't have access to R12 for a reasonable cost then convert it to R134a. I would also use R134a components as well, i.e. compressor, evaporator, condenser.
Keep in mind the R134a requires the more efficient R134a evaporators and condensers to work very well. Also, R134a tends to leak more because it's molecules are smaller than those of R12. Lastly, with the style of hose fittings on these older cars, it is sometimes impossible to stop a small leak that would drain the system in a year with R134a.