I recently dropped a 5.0/auto into my '80 Mercury Capri RS. The car has factory A/C which worked prior to removing the old 2.3 4 banger. What will happen if I just recharge the A/C with R134A? Or, what do I need to change to make it work correctly?
I don't know much about ac but my uncle told me if you put r134 in an r12 system it will gum it up. You can buy a changeover kit at the local auto parts store that has new seals and such.
If you can mount it and get the hoses ran to it, It'll work You'll use the 134 oil regardless of which compressor you use, as its for the freon, not the compressor. Make sure you buy a quality adapter kit as Ive had cheap ones from Oreillys leak out after a few days. Did you disconnect anything while you removed the motor, or did you just sit it to the side? If you opened any lines, then you will need to replace the accumulator/dryer as they are full of moisture now.
If you want to try and flush out the old oil, I've had good luck with rubbing alky. Pour it down in the line, then blow it out with compressed air. Do this three or four times or until it comes out clear from the other hose. Then reverse flush it a time or two. It's best if the dryer is not in the system, nor the compressor. Then when you get ready to put it all back together, oil the O rings on the connections before you reassemble them. Pour a few ounces of oil in both lines, too. Use a new dryer and conversion fittings. Like somebody said, about 80% charge, usually about 2 1/2 to 3 12 oz cans is just about right.
On a side note... I bought a can of the oil that has a screw on type lid, and then freon w/ stop leak and oil already in it. I used the can of oil to a cotton swab into to oil the o-rings and such. Then I filled the system w/ the freon w/ the stopleak and oil. Each can of freon has enough oil for that amount of freon, so you get the right amount of oil and freon ratio. The stopleak works wonders, even on a system that your sure doesn't leak, I'd use it. Never heard anything bad about it, and had A/C guys swear by it. I redid 4 a/c systems in a weekend so the bottle of oil for the orings was well worth it also (less than $5) and I have some left for future use.
If the compressor will hook up to the lines and brackets, it's fine, use it. Freeze 12 is one of the so called "replacement" refridgearants designed to replace R12. I've never used it, but be careful. Some of them are nothing more than butane gas, which is a good refridgerant, but not something you want in a car system. Think about a small leak, then a spark, then you get the idea!
I just went through a whole messy process of putting R134 refrigerant into a new but original compressor. The best thing is to find R12 freon and use that and not mess with the R134, Roz
It has been sitting with the lines disconnected from the compressor for over a year now. Didn't know that would hurt anything. I think I'm going to take it to someone who knows what they are doing. This sounds like something I could waste too much money on and not get good results.
Put the A/C together, leave the belt off, and drive the car down here and we'll take it to Jimmy Collins. He did Earl's and Frank's A/C in their Mavs and my family has been using him for nearly 20 years.
Sounds like a plan. Will be a while though, it's starting to cool off out now, so I doubt I'll try to get it working before next spring. Just trying to get my ducks in a row on what I am going to do about it later.
Yup, leaving the open like that will let the dryer/accumulator absorb moisture from the air. Thats what it's job is to do w/ the air system. I'd do like Terry said... get it together... Put what compressor you want no it, and buy a new dryer/accumulator and take it with you to the A/C guy. He'll want to replace it anyways. This way you got new stuff and from a guy that knows what he's doing.
