Got everything buttoned up and charged the system today!
First I rerouted the suction line back along the passenger side, made the final high side connections on the ProCooler and zip tied the mass of hoses. Funny, I did not hear any vacuum release when I removed the high side caps on the ProCooler.
Not quite enough slack in the return line to the compressor to follow the orig route - had cross over somewhat mid tub.
Emptied the oil in the rebuilt compressor a refilled with approx 4 oz of Ester oil, then I poured 3 oz down the low side line for a total of 7 oz of oil. Next I pulled a vacuum for 30 minutes. No apparent leaks!!! Then I pressure tested the system using dry nitrogen at 155 PSI. Again no leak down.
I then pulled a vacuum for three hours prior to charging. Ambient air temps were 86 degrees so P&T charts gave me targeted low side pressure ranges of 19 -39 and high side ranges of 140 to 235. I then put in three cans of 134a being careful to purge the gauge set and lines by pulling a vacuum with a two yellow line set-up and got the follow readings after each of the first 3 cans (excluding any adjustment for charging hose lines and can changes).
Charge..............Low Pressure..........High Pressure................Vent Temp
12 oz.................15...........................12 5.................................70
24 oz.................20...........................17 5.................................44
36 oz.................20...........................22 5.................................40
36 + (?).............20...........................235.. ...............................43
Getting to the correct charge is the tricky part. Having altered the system by adding two addl condensers I figured my charge would be some north of 40 oz (47.2 oz R-12 capacity x 85% = 40 oz)
I found that imersing the cans in hot water while charging help empty them faster and empty them completely. After starting can 4, I introduced an unknown partial quantity (est 2-3 oz), my high side pressure shot up to 250 - 255 as did vent temps, so I figured I was slightly overcharged so I began venting refridgerant until my high side got back to 235 and then stopped.
Vent temps at idle were a little higher than after can 3, however, taking the car out for a drive after sunset with ambient temps of 75 I was getting vent temps in the low to mid 30's
