R-134a conversion: a success!

[treed2@u.washington.edu (T. Reed)]

Just thought I'd flaunt my newly working A/C.. charged the system
yesterday and just tested it out in the daytime this afternoon. It cools
well.. I don't have a thermometer to check my vent temps handy but I'll
probably check them eventually. What I can say is that driving around last
night with 60 degree temps outside, my windows were all fogged up and my
ears got numb and turned red. Chilly. Today it got almost as cold but it
took longer (I had it on recirculate). I've never had a car with working
A/C before so this is fun stuff.

Basically, I took the middle road for the conversion - I replaced the
receiver/drier ($22), pulled a vacuum for 20 minutes ($12 Harbor Freight
compressed air driven venturi pump - 4.2 SCFM @ 90 psi) and used a cheap
interdynamics kit ($35 including 2 cans with r134a + oil + leak sealer +
o-ring treatment, a can tap, hose, fittings, label and instructions) to
charge with 24 oz refrigerant and 6 oz ester oil. I didn't drain the oil
or change the o-rings, but it all seems to be working fine so far. We'll
see..

I'm liking this whole cold-air-from-all-four-vents thing, and it seems to
get cold a lot quicker than the heater gets hot .. something like 30
seconds before it starts blowing cold whereas the heater usually takes 60
- 100 seconds. It's pretty neat under the hood too because the hoses for
the low side frost over with ice while the high side gets almost hot
enough to burn you.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my story since there have been some posts
about converting in the past few weeks.

-Toby

--
'87 16v