63 a/c c60

[Harry S.]

Well it's been a long summer. Now that it's cooling off I finally got my A/C working properly. It not that there were many failures in the process, my boss (my wife) changes my priorities now and again.

Anyway, Starting in the spring I removed all the A/C components between the evaporator and the condenser.

There are many I's in this but it feels good to do it yourself!

I sent the compressor to one of our own for a rebuild. He did a great job.
I rebuilt the STV
I found a period correct expansion valve that tested correct, the original was jammed shut.
I found correct Freon hoses and had them dated
I flushed the evaporator
I flushed the condenser
I obtained all new green O-rings
I obtained a 30 lb tank of R12
I obtained 2 qts of R12 oil
The drier was Ok.....

I installed all the components using the green O-rings soaked in R12 oil. Took about 10 hours as there is no space to work. Last part in was the drier.

Since I don't have the tools, I took it to my buddies shop and it passed the Vacuum test. Good job on my part.

He also charged the system with R12 and it's now blowing at 40 degrees. Just in time for winter.

Hopefully in the spring it will be just fine.

You can do it yourself.

Good Luck

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Harry, Congrates a lot of hard work finally paid off. a 50 yr old system is hard to find parts for never mind that it's one of a few hundred 63 Corvettes.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Well it's been a long summer. Now that it's cooling off I finally got my A/C working properly. It not that there were many failures in the process, my boss (my wife) changes my priorities now and again.

Anyway, Starting in the spring I removed all the A/C components between the evaporator and the condenser.

There are many I's in this but it feels good to do it yourself!

I sent the compressor to one of our own for a rebuild. He did a great job.
I rebuilt the STV
I found a period correct expansion valve that tested correct, the original was jammed shut.
I found correct Freon hoses and had them dated
I flushed the evaporator
I flushed the condenser
I obtained all new green O-rings
I obtained a 30 lb tank of R12
I obtained 2 qts of R12 oil
The drier was Ok.....

I installed all the components using the green O-rings soaked in R12 oil. Took about 10 hours as there is no space to work. Last part in was the drier.

Since I don't have the tools, I took it to my buddies shop and it passed the Vacuum test. Good job on my part.

He also charged the system with R12 and it's now blowing at 40 degrees. Just in time for winter.

Hopefully in the spring it will be just fine.

You can do it yourself.

Good Luck

Harry...hope you took lots of photos & wrote it all down for an article!!!!

[Dave S.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Harry...hope you took lots of photos & wrote it all down for an article!!!!

Harry,
Just send Vinnie the book and photos you, Dennis and Eric put together for the Judging School last February. That should fill about 3 Restorer Magazines from front to back. All kidding aside I'm sure all that research made your efforts possible. Great Job..........

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Harry, Congrats on your accomplishments. That was a major effort. That's one thing I've never really tackled and I know it's a complex system. I've done some work on similar A6 units and other parts of the systems, but left the final efforts to a AC specialist.

Now that you have it working well for summer heat, it's time you get yourself a winter place down here and bring your '63 with you. This way you can use it and keep it cycling to keep AC system happy.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Glad it worked out for you, Harry.

[Roy S.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Harry, Congrats on your accomplishments. That was a major effort. That's one thing I've never really tackled and I know it's a complex system. I've done some work on similar A6 units and other parts of the systems, but left the final efforts to a AC specialist.

Now that you have it working well for summer heat, it's time you get yourself a winter place down here and bring your '63 with you. This way you can use it and keep it cycling to keep AC system happy.

Richard - that logic is what drives many of us in this sickness, have an A/C car move to Florida, have an extra teak steering wheel buy a car that needs it!

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Harry, air conditioned 63's are a real challenge, glad to see that you persevered in that battle. Good luck and may your C60 stay really cool.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

........ have an A/C car; move to Florida, have an extra teak steering wheel; buy a car that needs it!

... have a 36.5 gal tanker ? ... move 600 miles round trip from the nearest gas pump.

[John D.]

Re: 63 a/c c60

Good job Harry. In July 65 I bought a new Corvette with AC. Sounded like my old school bus as I recall. But the AC sure was nice. Had the base engine and was a dead horse. Was fun driving thru Bob's Big Boy or Eat n Park with the windows up as I recall. So much fun that I traded it in on a '66 big block. John