A/C conversion recommendation in East Bay??

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

Hi,

A/C is pants on these cars as we all know, but summer is somewhere around the corner, and I need to get the old R12 out and the system converted to R134...

Does anybody have experience (good) of conversion specialist in the East San Francisco Bay Area that they would recommend??

TIA,
Kemal

big911fan · big911fan's Garage

I don't live in the East Bay anymore but I used to live in Danville. There was an independent shop in Dublin called Kahler's. I think they're still located there. They always had a good reputation at the time. Don't know about their pricing or anything but they did a lot of work on the older air cooled cars.

I think he held some sort of record at Bonneville with a Pcar also.

cantdrv55 · 03-26-2011, 06:00 PM

I'm in the same boat and probably located close to you. There's a shop I use called Valhalla in Lafayette. They don't do AC but they once recommended a place to me a while back but forgot the name. I plan to call Valhalla on Monday. When I get the info, I'll post it here.

vracer · vracer's Garage

kemal,
I'm curious why you are so sure you must convert. While 134 is greener, it is not as efficient at good old R12. Chaulk me ujp as another person looking for a good A/C shop in the Bay Area.

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

@cantdrv55, thanks. Will wait to read...

@big911 - thanks

@vracer: I'm not sure I need to convert actually... I know the square root of **** all about the AC in these cars, so if there is no reason to convert I won't. Just thought it was the right thing to do is all!

Either way I still need a good recommendation

big911fan · big911fan's Garage

I just did a search and found a web site for Kahler's. They're obviously under different ownership now so I can't offer a first hand recommendation. Check out their site though. They look like a highly qualified shop but may not know the older Pcars as well as the newer cars. I'm just not sure.

hcoles · 03-27-2011, 07:51 AM

subscribed - been looking for this also, even willing to go to Southern CA to find a Porsche conversion expert. I want to install all the correct parts or at least the hoses/etc. and then have an expert purge/fill/etc.

tcar · 03-27-2011, 08:18 AM

Think twice about changing to R134...

R12 cools a LOT better, especially with the marginal 911 system.

You can still get R12... it's more expensive, but it's there.

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

Update: spoke to my man at Stead Porsche in Walnut Creek... They do R12 refills, so gonna take the wagon there and have it done. Will report back here when it's done and let you all know.

K

cantdrv55 · 03-27-2011, 11:56 AM

Please report back after the Stead AC service. I thought R12 was impossible to acquire so converting to R134 was necessary. If Stead will refill with R12, I'll go that route.

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

No - many shops have R12. From what I am hearing (ringing around etc) it's marginally more expensive but yes, it is available.

EDIT: and yes, I will report back

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

UPDATE: Just spoke with Kahlers and for completeness here they said Yes, they have done many many older 911s AC recharging, and Yes, they can refill using R12, and it can cost UP TO 336USD.

I am going to wait until it starts to get a little hot weather wise then have it done (still at Steads) and report back here.

Cheers, Kemal

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

Well looks like I won't be waiting...

Typical ain't it? The A/C packed up today. Completely. Now I have heard that the odds are the system pressures are too low, and as such this is why the compressor stopped today and now I get nothing whatsoever from turning the knob.

Can anybody confirm this?? Is there anything else I should check, or is this most likely? 87 coupe, and fuses are good....

TIA, Kemal

wwest · wwest's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by k8atu

Hi,

A/C is pants on these cars as we all know, but summer is somewhere around the corner, and I need to get the old R12 out and the system converted to R134...

Does anybody have experience (good) of conversion specialist in the East San Francisco Bay Area that they would recommend??

TIA,
Kemal

Isn't K8...Ohio region..?

RSTarga · 03-29-2011, 12:53 PM

I wouldn't convert unless I added condensor capacity. I think R134 is on it's way out too.

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

A/C fully charged (R12) by Stead Porsche in Walnut Creek. 42F at the vent.

Blissfully happy :-)

hcoles · 03-31-2011, 01:15 PM

I've had this done a few times and it fairly rapidly leaks out. The old hoses reportedly have holes in them and/or get old and leak. Will be interesting to see how long your cooling lasts.

k8atu · k8atu's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by hcoles

I've had this done a few times and it fairly rapidly leaks out. The old hoses reportedly have holes in them and/or get old and leak. Will be interesting to see how long your cooling lasts.

Apparently they put some magic witchcraft based stuff in the A/C system that aids sealing the more you use the A/C. But yes, you are right, will be interesting to see how long it lasts. They did recover a few ounces of the old R12......

hcoles · 03-31-2011, 02:31 PM

okay, still we are looking for a Norcal or even SoCal very expert 911 AC conversion place, still nobody out there I guess. I'd like to go to one place and get all stuff, I don't have the energy to do the complete project myself, I'll do some of the mechanical labor but would like to leave the tricky parts to an expert. I want the expert to know all that is needed e.g. use this overpressure switch, this exp. valve, these hoses, these fittings, clean this/that heat exchanger/etc. My feeling after reading all the posts that a good operating R134a system using the stock heat exchangers along with proper new pump/etc. should be fine for me. A better hex up front might be a worthwhile improvement.