When I bought this car last fall, I didn't really care that the AC was inop. Last week it was about 82 & 90% humidity & it motivated me to try to get the AC working. There was a little pressure in the low side so I figured it didn't leak, or at not real fast.

The car had sat for about 3 years before I got it so I didn't know if it worked or not. I had the remains of a 30 lb jug of R12 so I hooked it up, jumped the compressor switch & it pulled in what was left out of the can, I figure about 3 lbs or so? According to my gauge with the temps & humidity my low side pressure was about 46 at idle. I didn't bother to vacuum it down or anything, just wanted to see if it would work. Amazing that 43 year old parts still function this well!!
Today it was about 76 & about 60% humidity & this is what my center vent temp was.
Much more enjoyable to drive now!!

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that's a cool car

 

Glad it worked out for you

I'd love to get mine working but I'm afraid of what it will cost.

 

Very cool.

If the system still had pressure, there was no need to vacuum it down (ASSuming that whatever was inside there actually was R-12...), so it's not surprising that it worked.

I'd recommend adding a bit of oil, too, as it's probably lost some over the years.

The factory-accepted "normal" leakage rate was a pound a year, but it looks like this car never got that memo, so you may be good for quite some time with this charge.

- Eric

 

Scott,

Very Cool. . Is that an old Alpine Stereo in the dash?