Thinking about adding A/C

[mrtazwrench]

I have my 87 J20 apart waiting on body work, and since it's been hot here lately I'm thinking about putting in A/C before the grille and grille guard go back on. I have york compressors, enough parts to make a nice black under dash unit, some of the lines, not sure if I'll be able to save a condensor, and ofcourse I'll have to buy conversion ports and a new dryer. any input on adding an A/C, converting to R134, and places to buy any parts I cant save/use/find used would be a good.

Here's linked pics showing the current state of the J20...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16405&id=100000637596446&l=76427b95fd

[rmorit01]

That is looking good. Lots of work into the bed already. AC will be a great addition even in the midwest.

[68J2000]

I say do it, think of it this way it's better to do it now and have it, rather than have it back together and want to do it in the future. You've got most of the parts, what's a lil extra work?

[mrtazwrench]

That bed is the second best I've seen in the midwest, since I saw my J20 after the origonal owner just bought it new, the best had come from what looked like a burnt fire truck in ID, this one was purchased by Gadgetman with a Gladiator it did not fit on, the only rust through was a pinhole in the left flare, everything else just needed to be cleaned up and some tweaks straitened out. This thing was supose to be worked on over the winter so I could be driving it now, would like to have it for the Rochester, MN Toys For Tots Car Show next weekend, but I guess I'll have to take it next year.

[mrtazwrench]

I say do it, think of it this way it's better to do it now and have it, rather than have it back together and want to do it in the future. You've got most of the parts, what's a lil extra work?

That's just what I thought today, heat index near 100 here today, and the Wife and I would like to hit some car shows and cruise nights, ofcourse just a drive once in a while, I think she'll like it as well.

[Tigger4X]

NOW is the time for sure, especially considering you have most of the parts. There is a very recent thread about A/C and whether to go with R-12, Freeze 12, or an R-134 conversion. Check it out! :thumbsup:

I can't wait to stuff a nice unit under my dash!! :cool:

[Tigger4X]

Here is just ONE of quite a few, but this has some very specific info about which freon type/brand you may want to consider and some other good bits of info too! :thumbsup: Dont forget to post up what you decided on and dont forget the pics!! :drivin:

[mrtazwrench]

Here is just ONE of quite a few, but this has some very specific info about which freon type/brand you may want to consider and some other good bits of info too! :thumbsup: Dont forget to post up what you decided on and dont forget the pics!! :drivin:

I had a thought today about taking all the parts to work and pulling a vac on them assembled out of the vehicle. I'll be going R134, looked at Carquest parts and I can get R134 dryers and condensors, and not much more. I'm not sure I can save a condensor, and have a different place to check pricing on one, the CQ dryers seem OK on price. The plan would be to find all leaks before it goes into the vehicle, then vac and recharge in vehicle, which I would have to haul to the shop to charge if I get it done before body work is done.

[mrtazwrench]

I got the bees killed in the truck I'm pulling parts from, got it moved down by the shop, and plan to pull parts after lunch, I'll have to add some pics.:D

Carquest has a good price on R134 dryers, and they list condensors, but those are kind of steep on price, I guess they listed expansion valves, and evaporators too, but not much else, from what I've found out a new expansion valve would be a good thing to put on also.

[mrtazwrench]

The A/C got nothing done on it over the winter due to a shop collapse at home, but started looking at it again last weekend, parts got damaged in the collapse, but I think I found replacements in my collection.

All my effort on it now is going into POR 15/lining the inside of the bed.

[mrtazwrench]

I assembled the pieces at work and found a small leak in the evaporator to comp hose, got another to try now. I ended up ordering the drier an exp. valve from rock auto... now can anyone tell me are there any fan switches around anymore that will power up the comp, the one in the unit I'm using loses power to the comp at high fan, and the other one I tested has no power to the comp, I have others to check, but I think I will put a toggle switch to power it all up.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

I assembled the pieces at work and found a small leak in the evaporator to comp hose, got another to try now. I ended up ordering the drier an exp. valve from rock auto... now can anyone tell me are there any fan switches around anymore that will power up the comp, the one in the unit I'm using loses power to the comp at high fan, and the other one I tested has no power to the comp, I have others to check, but I think I will put a toggle switch to power it all up.
Hey Chad, is it the round variable switch or the square 3 speed switch? I took my variable switch apart and cleaned all the contacts, works great now.
Hey, did you ever find out if you have any spare black vents in good shape?

[mrtazwrench]

Hey Chad, is it the round variable switch or the square 3 speed switch? I took my variable switch apart and cleaned all the contacts, works great now.
Hey, did you ever find out if you have any spare black vents in good shape?

It's the variable switch. It might be a week or 2 before I got it installed and see what's left over, I was going to work on it Sat, but looks like I might be taking it to a car show. Rock Auto parts should be here tomorrow, might start on it Sunday, I have to swap radiators too, got a little seepage at the top tank.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

It's the variable switch. It might be a week or 2 before I got it installed and see what's left over, I was going to work on it Sat, but looks like I might be taking it to a car show. Rock Auto parts should be here tomorrow, might start on it Sunday, I have to swap radiators too, got a little seepage at the top tank.
Its a pretty simple switch to pull apart. Bend back the 3 prongs that hold it together and wire brush everything clean and reassemble. Real easy, I got it done in 15~20mins.

[crispyboy]

I remember seeing the switch in a book at the local parts house.

When I reworked my system a few years ago:

I had new hoses made at the local parts house using some of the old fittings. The fittings has some special turns and twists to get into the evaporator and condensor.
new low pressure switch
new expansion valve r134 compatible
compressor - Sanden for 134 refridgerant. The truck originally had a York and their is a conversion kit for using a Sanden. The compressor came from China and is a bit noisy but it does work.
asphalt tape to wrap the lines in passenger compartment
repainted the unit with paint made for plastic - Rustoleum Fusion if I remember correctly.The cab is like a meat locker on the hottest - most humid days.

Here is the link where I bought the compressor kit and expansion valve.

http://www.marketworks.com/storefrontprofiles/default.aspx?sfid=75198

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

I remember seeing the switch in a book at the local parts house.

When I reworked my system a few years ago:
I had new hoses made at the local parts house using some of the old fittings. The fittings has some special turns and twists to get into the evaporator and condensor.
new low pressure switch
new expansion valve r134 compatible
compressor - Sanden for 134 refridgerant. The truck originally had a York and their is a conversion kit for using a Sanden. The compressor came from China and is a bit noisy but it does work.
asphalt tape to wrap the lines in passenger compartment
repainted the unit with paint made for plastic - Rustoleum Fusion if I remember correctly.The cab is like a meat locker on the hottest - most humid days.

Here is the link where I bought the compressor kit and expansion valve.

http://www.marketworks.com/storefrontprofiles/default.aspx?sfid=75198

This is exactly what I am doing right now lol

[mrtazwrench]

I remember seeing the switch in a book at the local parts house.

When I reworked my system a few years ago:

I had new hoses made at the local parts house using some of the old fittings. The fittings has some special turns and twists to get into the evaporator and condensor.
new low pressure switch
new expansion valve r134 compatible
compressor - Sanden for 134 refridgerant. The truck originally had a York and their is a conversion kit for using a Sanden. The compressor came from China and is a bit noisy but it does work.
asphalt tape to wrap the lines in passenger compartment
repainted the unit with paint made for plastic - Rustoleum Fusion if I remember correctly.The cab is like a meat locker on the hottest - most humid days.

Here is the link where I bought the compressor kit and expansion valve.

http://www.marketworks.com/storefrontprofiles/default.aspx?sfid=75198
*I'm using old hoses, I only had one with a small leak indicated by the sniffer when I charged it on the bench last week, found a replacement out back.
*Most of my system is older and has no low pressure switch.
*Just got the drier and exp valve today.
*I have a ton of york compressors so I'm going to use them.
*We had a 103 day here on Tues, the unit was in the trunk of the car and the asphalt wrap pulled right off, I think I can reuse it, if not there should be some at work.
*I have tan int, but I'm using a black unit, none of the tan units I have matched well enough.

I guess you can post how much you charged your's with, but I may not help me since I'm using a different comp, I plan on starting with 2lbs.

[mrtazwrench]

Ive had the AC up and working for a few weeks now, yesterday being the longest I've used it.

The R134 works for my J-truck, but can see how it might be lacking in a Wag.

What are normal engine temps with the AC on? On the road it is slightly higher, but I have had it go near 220 a few times idling after a long highway run or pulling a long hill, did stop and go through town last night without issues.

I have the heavy duty fan clutch I found in a search here that needed the holes ground out to fit.

[Rod2]

I'm running a 160* 'stat and my AC will move the needle to the middle of the guage on hot days at low speeds (trail crawling, idling through town), but I don't think it gets close to 220.
I have a 4 core radiator; what do you have?

[mrtazwrench]

IIRC I have a 190 stat, the radiator is from an 85 that had been used as a wrecker, 4 row I think, 220 I'm still fine with if it goes over that it's not good.