[DeTomaso] R 12 conversions
David Gardner
close_enough at losalamos.com
Wed Sep 1 22:25:01 EDT 2010
I'm not certain this question was answered in sufficient technical
detail, so I have asked a hobbyist friend specializing in air
conditioning to post on the thread. His name is Jim Sims.
We build our own systems, rather than having shops do it, and have the
swaging tools to make lines, a vacuum pump, an ultrasonic leak
detector, valve assemblies, etc. We also install an additional
counterflow heat exchanger to harvest some of the cooling power
remaining the in the gas exiting the evaporator, and have moved to
fabricating our own aluminum lines. The best we have achieved is 38 F
exiting the vent on a '72 911. We installed a new system on my
Pantera, but have not yet charged it. Below is his first response,
but I asked that he post.
"what do I suggest I do? Compose and submit my suggestions based on
our limited experience? We have never charged and run your system.
If his system is tight (passes a pressure/vacuum pump down test after
having any residual R-12 removed and recycled) he can indeed do a
basic conversion:
Pull the condenser and flush. Remove the expansion valve from the
evaporator, flush evaporator, install a bit of R-134a compatible
refrigerant oil and reinstall expansion valve but I would just install
a new valve given how inexpensive they are, provided one doesn't get
them from a Pantera parts source. Pull the compressor and fill with
R-134a compatible refrigerant oil. Drain/blow out the existing hoses
of R-12 mineral refrigerant oil but do not flush (R-12 mineral oil
will stay in place and reduce the permeability of the hose to R-134a).
Replace the R/D and install a bit of the new oil in it. Pump down (~3
hours) and recharge."
Cheers,
David
More information about the DeTomaso
mailing list