AC swaps?

[yellow1098Greg]

I have a 77 TA that supposedly needs a new compressor. It has the orginal compressor on it. The air doesnt blow hardly at all no wind flow or anything. It was recently recharged and still nothing. Iv had a few mechanics tell me i need a new compressor. With that said im debating on which way to go. The car is a factor AC car but even if the AC was working perfect in that car, i want it to blow like 2008 VW passat. Its hot as hell here in orlando and I wanna take the car out weekends and not melt without AC. My question is can i find an late model AC unit and fabricate it into my car? or will it never work with that ponitac 400 engine? just wondering if that was possible. I know alot of you guys are proponents of the vintage systems but thats just alittle out of my budget right now. plus cant be as cold as the VW's thing is ice.

Also Classic industries sell's a smaller aluminum compressor thats 400$ will that be worth buying over and factor rebuilt unit that i could get for 150? its saysss it blows hard and suppose bogs the engine down less. When that AC was working ok. (which ok is the best it ever was) it bogged down that engine a ton. Just looking for some insight. i gotta my a descion fast tho. Love my car but now that summer here in FL its definitly to hot. Thanks

[Ollie8974]

Convert to a Sanden. Check E-bay you should be able to pick one up for $150.00 or less. Any of the Sanden compressors will work as long as they are a universal type with a 2 grove V belt pulley and 12 volt clutch.
the AC systems are designed for R12 refrigerant, do not convert to R 134 The Sanden will work with R134 or R12, even though the ad will say R134.
Vintage Air offers a bracket to mount a Sanden Compressor on a Pontiac engine.
http://www.vintageair.com/DownloadsSection/Compressor%20Mounting%20Brackets/Pontiac%20Engines/141001-PPA%20PONTIAC.pdf
As for the fan speed check the fan relay pictured below.
As long as the metal fittings on the hose assemblies are not damaged they are reusable. Take them to a local AC shop and have the hose sections replace with the Teflon barrier hose.

[yellow1098Greg]

looks good....tell me about this sanden compressor.....what will be the advantages over buying another one the same as mine.....more wind speed? colder? less "bog" down on engine?

[Ollie8974]

The Sanden is lighter weight and more efficient design. Smaller size. any other technical aspects I don't know.

[yellow1098Greg]

hmmm im gonna call the company.....thanks

[DRs 69]

I'm not sure that the compressor really has much to do with duct discharge temp. If its not working then yes no pressure equals no cool air. From what I have seen R-12 systems generally blow cooler air than R-134. I haven't messed with 12 allot but I have heard its considerably more expensive than R-134.

What seems to affect the system the most is total system refrigerant capacity, correct charge weight, correct pressure's, and condenser efficiency. The condenser needs air flow at all times when running the system. This becomes a problem when stopped either run a electric fan on it or find a way to run the engine cooling fan when stopped/idling when the system is on.

Also you say the air speed out of the vents is low. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here but isn't the blower fan what produces the air flow not the AC compressor.

[Twentyover]

You may have multiple problems.

You need to find out why "The air doesnt blow hardly at all no wind flow or anything." Does the blower motor under-perform, or is there a controls issue that doesn't direct the air to the correct outlets. Another condition that may be occuring is poor placement of face outlets to service the front seat passengers. I added a face level outlet on driver's left to my car to help my situation. The correct blower motor blowing through a clean evap core directed to the correct outlets should deliver the air volume and velocity you want. It is my opinion you need to focus on this area before assesing the need for a compressor.

The second potential problem is vent air temperature. It may also be affected by controls, if the cold air is reheated by poor door positioning. I'd check the vacuum supply to the A/C control to make sure it's good (it defaults to heated air defrost for saftey reasons.) Make sure the control head works- move the controls and watch for vacuum motor movement.

Good Hunting.

[fordsbyjay]

To check the blower you need to measure the voltage at the motor then possibly at the switch. Over time fan switches seem to become more resistive therefor there is a larger voltage drop at the switch. I had a 79 F150 like this and ended up running a bypass (high) switch that took full power to the motor. It was night and day different.

[nekkidhillbilly]

you can convert a a6 to r134 just change out all the seals also the a6 in the 78 442 my grandfather had was probably the coldes ac ive ever felt