If so you might want to stock up on a product called "Freeze 12" it is a direct drop in refrigerant that is no longer being made, but if you act fast you might score a case or so for around $10 a pound. Just a heads up.
Scot

 

Thanks for the info. Any pointers where one might find this stuff?

 

Yes just google "Freeze 12" and click "shopping" at the top tab and voila.
Scot

 

Yep! Still have R12 in my 72 Cutlass, my 89 Caprice Classic, and my wife's 92 Mercury Grand Marquis! Fortunatly my son in law found a tank of it in his father's gagage that was more than half full! All three are fully charged now but with what I have, they'll be ok for the rest of their lives!

 

I still run R12 as well (the real stuff). There is still plenty of it around believe it or not. Do some research on Freeze 12. I think I read that it is like 75% R134a with just enough synthetic R12 to carry the oil necessary to work with an R12 system so it may not cool as efficiently (read cold) as the real stuff.

 

Years ago I began using Freeze 12 in an '82 El Camino I own. It may perform okay in a milder climate, but it doesn't cut it in an Arizona summer. For me it's either pay for real R-12 or convert to 134a.

 

I use R12 in a few of my cars like my 70 SS454 Monte, 90 454SS pickup, and my 76 ElCamino SS. Freeze 12 works pretty good on a CCOT system but can't hang with POA and VIR systems without tweaking it. Actually CCOT systems are really good candidate for anything 79 -87. Squeeze in a few ounces of Ester oil and go to town.

 

The guy that does my air conditioning claims R12 is still readily available and doesn't cost that much more than R134 these days. He's convinced me to convert my 65 back to R12, says the system will work much better.

 

yep, I have a 92 corsica (Blue Bucket) that had r-12, then someone convinced first owner (little old lady near here) to convert to 134a, then a few years later I got it in good condition. I had my mechanic/family friend to completely flush and put r-12 back in it, with ne compressor, accumulator and orifice tube, it has bee checked every year, and has not lost an ounce, and I did that about 7 yrears ago... I love GM.

The Bean. :^)

 

also, my guy can still get it. but I had a 92 full size Eddie Buer Bronco, and another guy I used to work on my stuff, put 409a i think in that, it ran strong for 4 years.

The Bean. :^)

 

Cheap R-12 can be bought on craigslist every day of the week. By cheap, I mean a 14oz can for around 15-20 bucks, or larger quantities as well. My '88 Lesabre T-type is still an R12 system and thankfully works well (after a top off).

 

When I heard of the call for R-12 to not be available to the public, I made a point to grab all that I could find. I have several cases of the stuff, should last me a long long time.