I HAVE A 81 ....911.....WILL TODAYS AC HOOK UPS FIT ON MY VALVE.?

I HAVE A 81 ....911.....WILL TODAYS AC HOOK UPS FIT ON MY VALVE.

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[Nick at Pelican Parts]

No you have to install and R134 retrofit kit

- Nick

[Barrpete]

Assuming your AC system is original then it has the fittings for R-12. If you're asking if those fittings are compatible with the recharge kits you can buy in the local auto parts store (R-134a) then no they won't fit. On the other hand a professional automotive AC shop will be able to recharge with R-12 with your existing fittings.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by Barrpete

Assuming your AC system is original then it has the fittings for R-12. If you're asking if those fittings are compatible with the recharge kits you can buy in the local auto parts store (R-134a) then no they won't fit. On the other hand a professional automotive AC shop will be able to recharge with R-12 with your existing fittings.

There are "re"charge kits readily available that include the R134a adapters and a low side meter.

For ~$200 you can have an A/C certified tech do the entire conversion to R-134a.

[kuehl]

Most of your brick and mortar auto parts stores have AC conversion kits (converting from R12 to the more common R134a alternative refrigerant). As mr WwEst pointed out, these cheap refrigerant in a can with oil kits have a low side gauge. But, if your AC does not work because it is low on refrigerant or has no refrigerant in the system, then chances are you have air in the system and possibly a findable leak as well. You cannot simply use one of these cheap AC recharge kits and expect to get good results. You will need to have the system properly evacuated, charged and tested. Hence you could easily be wasting your time and $50 bucks; on the other hand many DIY's enjoy the challenge of trying to figure things out and giving it 'a go at it'. That's up to you.

You could take the car to an experienced AC tech and ask him his opinion and to quote the job.
He'll probably suggested evacuation, charge and testing... price generally run from $150 and up, all depending upon whether they are changing the drier, placing on charging adapters, what kind of refrigerant they are using, and more;
a shop that primarily does race car prep is likely to cost you more, but try to stick with shops that work on air cooled Porsche's.

Ask whom ever you take the car for a written quote, at least you'll have an idea.
If you have someone do the work on the car for you have them document on your sales receipt the type of refrigerant and oil used, and amounts, the ambient temperature outside when they tested it, along with the low and high side pressures at idle. If you drive past a shop with a sign in the lot that says $89 AC Charge.... keep driving.

There are plenty of good threads on AC here in the forums, they range from trying to
resurrect a 25 year old dead system ... all the way to making your car an meat locker in Houston.
Its all a matter of personal needs.

If you want a good idea on the system and how to improve it by doing the job right-once,
then Read The Mr. Ice Project