A/C Question
Thread Starter
69 Ol' Blue
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 205
From: Southwest Virginia
A/C Question
I am looking into restoring my original A/C system and need some advice from the CO experts. I want to use R12 or equivalent, ie. 420A, but I need to find hoses, compressor, evaporator, and condenser. I also need to have my POA valve gone through. I want to retain factory appearances. Any advice is appreciated.
Rodney
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,589
From: Houston, TX
Doug:
If you're missing the original hoses, you may have difficulty locating some with the proprietary bends or hoses with the integrated muffler. I chose to build my own system for R134A but the parts for an R12 system are essentially the same. I bought a new evaporator from Old Air Products 817-531-2665, they had the best price. I bought the barrier-type refrigeration hoses and the hose ends from NostalgicAC 888-977-8889. I bought a manual hose crimper from MasterCool (PN71550) on Amazon.com. Because I built my system for R134A, I had to fabricate mounting brackets to fit a universal style, parallel-flow condenser; if you're staying with R12, you can buy a factory-style condenser that will bolt right up to your radiator support. The parallel condenser is necessary to remove the heat from R134A, the factory tube-n-fin style condenser doesn't work well with 134A. My car was missing the integrated muffler in one of the the compressor hoses; after talking with Jay at Old Air Products, I opted to just omit the muffler and ran a straight hose. I also went with a newer aluminum compressor for the weight savings and better performance. The Pro6Ten aluminum compressor is 18 lbs. lighter than the factory iron A6, requires less HP to drive it and bolts right up like the original A6. The A6 compressor is also known for leaking around the front seal. Hope this info is helpful.
Rodney
If you're missing the original hoses, you may have difficulty locating some with the proprietary bends or hoses with the integrated muffler. I chose to build my own system for R134A but the parts for an R12 system are essentially the same. I bought a new evaporator from Old Air Products 817-531-2665, they had the best price. I bought the barrier-type refrigeration hoses and the hose ends from NostalgicAC 888-977-8889. I bought a manual hose crimper from MasterCool (PN71550) on Amazon.com. Because I built my system for R134A, I had to fabricate mounting brackets to fit a universal style, parallel-flow condenser; if you're staying with R12, you can buy a factory-style condenser that will bolt right up to your radiator support. The parallel condenser is necessary to remove the heat from R134A, the factory tube-n-fin style condenser doesn't work well with 134A. My car was missing the integrated muffler in one of the the compressor hoses; after talking with Jay at Old Air Products, I opted to just omit the muffler and ran a straight hose. I also went with a newer aluminum compressor for the weight savings and better performance. The Pro6Ten aluminum compressor is 18 lbs. lighter than the factory iron A6, requires less HP to drive it and bolts right up like the original A6. The A6 compressor is also known for leaking around the front seal. Hope this info is helpful.
Rodney
Last edited by cdrod; May 4, 2022 at 11:35 AM.
Thread Starter
69 Ol' Blue
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 205
From: Southwest Virginia
Doug:
If you're missing the original hoses, you may have difficulty locating some with the proprietary bends or hoses with the integrated muffler. I chose to build my own system for R134A but the parts for an R12 system are essentially the same. I bought a new evaporator from Old Air Products 817-531-2665, they had the best price. I bought the barrier-type refrigeration hoses and the hose ends from NostalgicAC 888-977-8889. I bought a manual hose crimper from MasterCool (PN71550) on Amazon.com. Because I built my system for R134A, I had to fabricate mounting brackets to fit a universal style, parallel-flow condenser; if you're staying with R12, you can buy a factory-style condenser that will bolt right up to your radiator support. The parallel condenser is necessary to remove the heat from R134A, the factory tube-n-fin style condenser doesn't work well with 134A. My car was missing the integrated muffler in one of the the compressor hoses; after talking with Jay at Old Air Products, I opted to just omit the muffler and ran a straight hose. I also went with a newer aluminum compressor for the weight savings and better performance. The Pro6Ten aluminum compressor is 18 lbs. lighter than the factory iron A6, requires less HP to drive it and bolts right up like the original A6. The A6 compressor is also known for leaking around the front seal. Hope this info is helpful.
Rodney
If you're missing the original hoses, you may have difficulty locating some with the proprietary bends or hoses with the integrated muffler. I chose to build my own system for R134A but the parts for an R12 system are essentially the same. I bought a new evaporator from Old Air Products 817-531-2665, they had the best price. I bought the barrier-type refrigeration hoses and the hose ends from NostalgicAC 888-977-8889. I bought a manual hose crimper from MasterCool (PN71550) on Amazon.com. Because I built my system for R134A, I had to fabricate mounting brackets to fit a universal style, parallel-flow condenser; if you're staying with R12, you can buy a factory-style condenser that will bolt right up to your radiator support. The parallel condenser is necessary to remove the heat from R134A, the factory tube-n-fin style condenser doesn't work well with 134A. My car was missing the integrated muffler in one of the the compressor hoses; after talking with Jay at Old Air Products, I opted to just omit the muffler and ran a straight hose. I also went with a newer aluminum compressor for the weight savings and better performance. The Pro6Ten aluminum compressor is 18 lbs. lighter than the factory iron A6, requires less HP to drive it and bolts right up like the original A6. The A6 compressor is also known for leaking around the front seal. Hope this info is helpful.
Rodney
Thread Starter
69 Ol' Blue
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 205
From: Southwest Virginia
Doug:
If you're missing the original hoses, you may have difficulty locating some with the proprietary bends or hoses with the integrated muffler. I chose to build my own system for R134A but the parts for an R12 system are essentially the same. I bought a new evaporator from Old Air Products 817-531-2665, they had the best price. I bought the barrier-type refrigeration hoses and the hose ends from NostalgicAC 888-977-8889. I bought a manual hose crimper from MasterCool (PN71550) on Amazon.com. Because I built my system for R134A, I had to fabricate mounting brackets to fit a universal style, parallel-flow condenser; if you're staying with R12, you can buy a factory-style condenser that will bolt right up to your radiator support. The parallel condenser is necessary to remove the heat from R134A, the factory tube-n-fin style condenser doesn't work well with 134A. My car was missing the integrated muffler in one of the the compressor hoses; after talking with Jay at Old Air Products, I opted to just omit the muffler and ran a straight hose. I also went with a newer aluminum compressor for the weight savings and better performance. The Pro6Ten aluminum compressor is 18 lbs. lighter than the factory iron A6, requires less HP to drive it and bolts right up like the original A6. The A6 compressor is also known for leaking around the front seal. Hope this info is helpful.
Rodney
If you're missing the original hoses, you may have difficulty locating some with the proprietary bends or hoses with the integrated muffler. I chose to build my own system for R134A but the parts for an R12 system are essentially the same. I bought a new evaporator from Old Air Products 817-531-2665, they had the best price. I bought the barrier-type refrigeration hoses and the hose ends from NostalgicAC 888-977-8889. I bought a manual hose crimper from MasterCool (PN71550) on Amazon.com. Because I built my system for R134A, I had to fabricate mounting brackets to fit a universal style, parallel-flow condenser; if you're staying with R12, you can buy a factory-style condenser that will bolt right up to your radiator support. The parallel condenser is necessary to remove the heat from R134A, the factory tube-n-fin style condenser doesn't work well with 134A. My car was missing the integrated muffler in one of the the compressor hoses; after talking with Jay at Old Air Products, I opted to just omit the muffler and ran a straight hose. I also went with a newer aluminum compressor for the weight savings and better performance. The Pro6Ten aluminum compressor is 18 lbs. lighter than the factory iron A6, requires less HP to drive it and bolts right up like the original A6. The A6 compressor is also known for leaking around the front seal. Hope this info is helpful.
Rodney
Rodney
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,589
From: Houston, TX
Doug:
I won't know the answer to that question for a few months. My car is currently at the body shop getting prep'd for paint. I hope to have it back in about 4-6 weeks, then another 4-6 weeks of work getting a new conv. top installed, reinstalling all the interior and body glass, reinstalling the bumpers, etc, etc. I pretty much followed the advice of Jay at Old Air Products, and Banny here on ClassicOldsmobile.com. Banny cleaned and readjusted my POA valve to work with R134A refrigerant. It get's pretty hot here in Houston, TX; Banny is in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area so I figured he should know what works for the hot Texas summers.
Rodney
I won't know the answer to that question for a few months. My car is currently at the body shop getting prep'd for paint. I hope to have it back in about 4-6 weeks, then another 4-6 weeks of work getting a new conv. top installed, reinstalling all the interior and body glass, reinstalling the bumpers, etc, etc. I pretty much followed the advice of Jay at Old Air Products, and Banny here on ClassicOldsmobile.com. Banny cleaned and readjusted my POA valve to work with R134A refrigerant. It get's pretty hot here in Houston, TX; Banny is in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area so I figured he should know what works for the hot Texas summers.
Rodney
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