Bill: How big is your compressor?

Scott,

I'm not sure we know each other well enough yet but here it is

the Home Improvement special - 25 gal, 5.5 Hp, 6.4scfm @ 90 psi - now if I were to add an ERam...

I hope Tim Allen approves

100 degrees driving around The San Fernando Valley all day today.... no AC and sweated my ass off.

Popped the top down, got a little wind and a sun tan....but still burning from the sun.

Thanks for the timely thread. It is time to pay the money to upgrade/fix my AC system.

Sonic: I live in the Valley. If you want to take a look at my set-up, let me know.

Scott, thanks I may take you up on that. I travel in the valley quite often for my work.

Would you mind posting how much your system set you back? or maybe PM me?

Im pretty much ready to spend the $ to do it right..

Pulled.

Sonic:

Here are the approximate numbers:

Barrier hoses: Bought from Griffiths. Spent way too much.
ProCooler: $300
Fan/Condenser: $3-400 (including brackets and stone guard)
Griffiths Kuehl Vent: $150
Evacuation and recharge with R12: $150

I think I'm into it for about $1500, but if you buy hoses locally, or from www.ackits.com, you can save a few hundred dollars.

The compressor on my dad's 87 300D Mercedes died. After replacing the compressor, drier, expansion valve, o-rings, and flushing the entire system, I charged with 16 oz. of propane. System pressures a little high static (car not moving), but after getting back from a drive on the road, vent temps were in the low 20s. Needless to say, the suction line had ice forming. I think either the pressure switch is not turning off the compressor or the climate control unit is smoked (might be why the compressor died).

Just FYI. This propane stuff works really good. Probably will have to bleed off some propane and add a little isobutane.
jürgen

Just got the car back: New Evaporator and Expansion Valve, Pro-cooler, 2 lbs of R12 (not 3). 42 degrees coming out of the vent with outside temp in the high 80's.:D

Why 2 lbs of R12, system requires ~ 47.6 ozs. At high 80's ambient temp your vent temps should be below 40 deg, especially with the ProColler. Do you know what the hi / low pressures were. Sounds to me like the deck lid was not down when the system was being charged and the high side pressure started getting high so no more R-12 was added.

It was sunny with a 90 degree ambient temperature yesterday and I had center vent temps of 42 degrees in a steady state cruise at 70 mph.

Not great, but much better than popping open the windows.

Jerry Kroeger

My 1972 911 T have:

Sander 507 rotary compressor
2 huge condenser
under dash vent unit
universal filter/drier
high output blower
134a refrigerant
3 electric 10" fans:D

87 Targa - 98k miles
out of the vent - 39 degrees
Temp outside the car - 80?
PO replaced compressor.
R12
Feels pretty cold after a couple minutes of driving.
Not as cold as brand new car, but better than I had expected.
Cold enough.
-Steve

Once and for all --

THE SANDEN "5 SERIES" COMPRESSOR IS NOT, REPEAT, NOT A ROTARY COMPRESSOR. IT IS A FIVE PISTON WOBBLE PLATE COMPRESSOR. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS, CHECK SANDEN'S WEB PAGE. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THE ONLY TRUE ROTARY COMPRESSOR IS THE SEIKO. VERTEX DESCRIBES THE SANDEN AS A ROTARY, AND THAT IS A MISREPRESENTATION. I EVEN SENT THEM AN E-MAIL, BUT THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR CATALOG.

I'm off my soap box now, and I feel much better. The meds must be kicking in. :D

Fu@!$%* vertex!!!:mad:

Two pounds of R12 instead of three is the what the Procooler installation recommends. The lower amount of R12 reduces system high side pressure and reduces chances of leaks.

I have one of the vertex cheapie compressors. My AC isn't working for squat, but I think I have a slow leak. but even after topping off the R12 it doesn't cut it. That is with new compressor, Receiver/dryer and expansion valve. I'm very tempted to yank the crap out, and just leave a fan in to blow fresh air in for circulation. I don't know that I want to drop any more money on it to go from marginal to slightly above marginal...

1987 carrera cabriolet- 54 degrees, stationary with motor at 2000 rpm.

R-12 no mods except to clean and straighten fins on front condensor and make sure the front fan is working and lubed.
Coast $3.00 for a fin comb and $7.00 for some fin bright!!

keith epperly 87 slant nose cabriolet carrera wide body

well as long as we are talking AC. My 78 never had the front condenser installed. I've always thought that when I upgraded the AC that I should add one. I have seen all of the after market setups. I'm not a fan of the static unit under the body. I have some interest in the griffith unit in the rear fender. I would like to keep the car as stock as possible but if the stock front condenser and fan assembly is really useless then I may look into something in the front fender. Ideally, if I moved away from the stock setup I would like to remove the rear lid condensor and run some other arrangement. Looks like I will be doing this in phases. The new compressor/dryer/r134 first and then the rest. any thoughts? thanks

my new SC, has a freezing cold AC. rivals my new chev truck. york compressor, and a new dose of the old freon. got the reciept. i dont know if the condensor is stock. looks bigger. no way, i am taking it out. forget lightweight.