So, I have now acquired the last piece of my AC system. I have a new OEM evaporator/exp valve, a new drier, a new condenser, and a rebuilt Matsushita compressor. I have new o-rings and ester for either R12 or R123. I have access to either freon, but it is admittedly harder to obtain the R12. The system was designed for R12, so I feel like it would be better to go back to that, but I would like to hear some success stories from R123 users, please.

Any opinions on which would be best? thanks!


I have a shitbox 1991 base model, btw.

 

I put a/c last September in my (not a shitbox) base and it works beautifully!! I am using R134. If you use R12 you won't have to put adaptors on the fill lines. R12 works better on these old systems. If you decide to use R134 then you have to install adaptors. Pretty easy. Good luck and let us know how cold you get it at the vents.

 

if you can get your hands on enough r12 i say use that. my first hatch blew ICE cold, even with no doors or windows on the car with 90+ temps outside thing cooled me off no problem

 

it's hard to get a hold of R12 freon because you have to have a epa certification to work on cooling systems to buy it... best bet is to use r414-b aka hotshot freon as a sub. you really need to do a lot more then just put adapters on your system to switch to r134a, you need at a min to flush system, replace o-rings the r12 are different, barrier hoses or new hoses, different expansion valve.... etc basically almost everything on the system

 

I meant R134a. Sorry, guys. I got a little confused with the numbers.

I have all new components, minus the low- and high-side lines, which I will flush with a flush gun. To use R-12, I would have to drive to my brother, who is an ASE Master-Tech, but that requires a 2-hour drive. Because R134 is readily available, I would rather use that, but if it's not going to get cold enough, it's not worth it. I have owned this car for 2 years and it never had a working A/C, so I'm not sure what the vent temps were like with R12. Ugh, I really am having a hard time deciding this, but I may just try the R134 to keep the tree-huggers happy and because my gauge manifold set is for R134. I'll try and take a lot of pics and let you guys know how it goes.

 

you can achieve cold temps with r134a no problem, you may need a pusher fan installed to keep temps cold at idle though

 

Well, it took me about 30 minutes to find some R12. Oh, looky here.



I guess I'll try and buy some adapters for my current R134a gauge set and use the R12. The system was designed for it, so I really want to go back with it. We'll see how it goes. I'll document the process.

 

Crap. My dumb *** bought the wrong compressor. I bought a Matsu and needed a Sanden. That puts this project on hold for a while. I priced a new suction and discharge hose, too. I'm just going to buy those new, as well, and that way everything will be new. So, the plan is R12 with all new components, whenever I get the compressor swapped. That means I will have spent more on the AC than I did on the entire car, that I bought for $800.

 

fwiw, i used Freeze-12, r-12 synthetic replacement, and it worked fine. didnt retrofit anything. just filled it up, did some maintenance straightening the compressor fins and i have cold air blowing. worked in 105* bakersfield weather.

 

Remember the matsu and sanden use different compressor brackets.

 

I currently have the Sanden on the car. I bought the Matsu replacement on accident. I'm going back to Sanden, but I have to return the Matsu. I went Ebay, so I have to do a trade with shipping. It will take a while, I'm sure.