R-12 to 134a Conversion question

[Tom Freeman]

Re: How about R-414b?

The big problem with anything other then R12 or 134a is getting service. Most A/C shops have two tanks, one for R12 and the other for 134a. They do not maintain tanks and equipemnt for the other "odd ball" refergerents out there. So say you are on a major trip away from home and you have A/C problems. You will have to locate a shop that handles the refregrent in you car. Since 99.9% do not, you have a problem. So, just stay with the mainstream and you will be just as well off.

tom...


The '73 Spot

[Tom Freeman]

Re: How about R-414b?

The big problem with anything other then R12 or 134a is getting service. Most A/C shops have two tanks, one for R12 and the other for 134a. They do not maintain tanks and equipemnt for the other "odd ball" refergerents out there. So say you are on a major trip away from home and you have A/C problems. You will have to locate a shop that handles the refregrent in you car. Since 99.9% do not, you have a problem. So, just stay with the mainstream and you will be just as well off.

tom...


The '73 Spot

[Clem Z.]

Re: How about R-414b?

a lot of shop are using the R-414B but under their trade name. jiffy lube calls it "artic-12" also "hot shot"

[Clem Z.]

Re: How about R-414b?

a lot of shop are using the R-414B but under their trade name. jiffy lube calls it "artic-12" also "hot shot"

[Don H.]

R-12 to 134a Conversion

About 4 years ago I converted my 65 to 134. Had dryer re-built, put in the blue or green o-rings, and flushed it. I did not change the fittings but made an adaptor with brass fittings and filled it myself with the small cans you can buy everywhere. It worked reasonable and I got about 48 degrees as the best temp - re-circulating the air. It was fine most of the time, that is when you take the car out of the garage (in the shade) but when it sat in the sun (like at the convention at Bowling Green) it was not real good.

So I converted back to r-12 (I had some saved so didn't have to purchase) for Texas convention last year. I had the dryer rebuilt again, changed all o-rings, and flushed the system. It then would go down to 42 and was needed for the Texas trip. I have always used Classic Auto Air in Tampa for the dryer and suction throttle valve rebuilds. Very satisfied and they are happy to give technical advise. If I remember right you only use 75% of system capacity for 134. My two cents.
Don H.
5190

[Don H.]

R-12 to 134a Conversion

About 4 years ago I converted my 65 to 134. Had dryer re-built, put in the blue or green o-rings, and flushed it. I did not change the fittings but made an adaptor with brass fittings and filled it myself with the small cans you can buy everywhere. It worked reasonable and I got about 48 degrees as the best temp - re-circulating the air. It was fine most of the time, that is when you take the car out of the garage (in the shade) but when it sat in the sun (like at the convention at Bowling Green) it was not real good.

So I converted back to r-12 (I had some saved so didn't have to purchase) for Texas convention last year. I had the dryer rebuilt again, changed all o-rings, and flushed the system. It then would go down to 42 and was needed for the Texas trip. I have always used Classic Auto Air in Tampa for the dryer and suction throttle valve rebuilds. Very satisfied and they are happy to give technical advise. If I remember right you only use 75% of system capacity for 134. My two cents.
Don H.
5190

[Brandon K.]

Alien O-rings??

What are blue or green O-rings for? What's the difference from black? Am I missing something important?

[Brandon K.]

Alien O-rings??

What are blue or green O-rings for? What's the difference from black? Am I missing something important?

[Dave Suesz]

R-134 is nasty stuff...

and will eat many of the seals in R-12 systems. It will even eat seals inside York or Tecumseh pumps, unless they are converted. I'm not sure GM pumps have this problem. I am also told R-134 is slightly corrosive, over time. Classic Auto Air can give you the story on this change in the A/C industry, which had NOTHING to do with protecting the environment.

[Dave Suesz]

R-134 is nasty stuff...

and will eat many of the seals in R-12 systems. It will even eat seals inside York or Tecumseh pumps, unless they are converted. I'm not sure GM pumps have this problem. I am also told R-134 is slightly corrosive, over time. Classic Auto Air can give you the story on this change in the A/C industry, which had NOTHING to do with protecting the environment.

[Clem Z.]

Re: R-134 is nasty stuff...

i heard the dupont patent was about to run out on R-12 that is why they made it illegal so no one else could produce it. freon is heavier than air so how does it get up to the statosphire?

[Clem Z.]

Re: R-134 is nasty stuff...

i heard the dupont patent was about to run out on R-12 that is why they made it illegal so no one else could produce it. freon is heavier than air so how does it get up to the statosphire?

[Brandon K.]

Alien O-rings and system capacity

Can I assme that the green/ blue o-rings will work with r-12 as well?

How much R-12 will the average system hold anyway? Probably not much than 2 lbs. I would think....

BK

[Brandon K.]

Alien O-rings and system capacity

Can I assme that the green/ blue o-rings will work with r-12 as well?

How much R-12 will the average system hold anyway? Probably not much than 2 lbs. I would think....

BK

[John H.]

Re: Alien O-rings??

Brandon -

R134a requires special O-rings, greenish-blue in color, to properly seal the joints; R134a molecules are much smaller than R-12, and require a much better "barrier" material than the conventional black rubber O-rings used with R-12. They also recommend you replace refrigerant hoses for the same reason - the hoses for R124a are made of different materials with a "barrier" layer.