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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) => Topic started by: swissarmychainsaw on June 05, 2020, 10:57:03 am

Title: Suburban AC install and upgrade
Post by: swissarmychainsaw on June 05, 2020, 10:57:03 am

Hey Gang,
1976 GMC Suburban
2008 LS 6.0 with Carb and MSD
TH350 203 transfer case
Blue and Silver!

This truck is a factory air truck, no rear air, but when the LS was installed by the PO all the AC stuff was removed.

I have taken a vow to get AC working again on this thing AND to install a rear AC unit on it.!

I source a rear unit, and (eventually) did the right thing and called "Classic Auto Air" for guidance on the compressor size and other things.  Mike O there put a kit together for me and I'm installing it now.

My question is this: How do you mount a parallel flow condenser?  the brackets I got seem not very helpful.

Kinda like this:
(https://coldhose.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/ec4bd27b0cfb57e48d4e4af3dac14ff3/c/s/cs1000.jpg)

Before I started this project I knew nothing about Air Conditioning, but I'm getting there

thanks!
Nick

Title: Re: Suburban AC install and upgrade
Post by: Da67goatman on June 05, 2020, 12:35:09 pm

Sorry I can't help, I don't know jack about A/C but I do really want to see the finished product after you get it all together

Title: Re: Suburban AC install and upgrade
Post by: bd on June 05, 2020, 02:08:46 pm

The condenser installs in front of the radiator similar to the factory configuration.  However, you may need to fabricate custom mounts to ensure easy accessibility for attaching and/or servicing the lines and to guarantee suitable clearance with the radiator. 

Link:  Serpentine conversion A/C question (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=26335.msg219444#msg219444)

Title: Re: Suburban AC install and upgrade
Post by: swissarmychainsaw on June 09, 2020, 03:49:49 pm

I'm doing a full court press on this system.

Here is the mount for the condenser.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/VehiclesOwned/Airconditioning/i-Kr9j55j/0/5e9e797b/M/IMG_9609-M.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/VehiclesOwned/Airconditioning/i-Bj2N3tk/0/56aedc62/M/IMG_9610-M.jpg)

I have all the lines fabbed up and am trying to get everything to seal tight.

Next is the wiring, which is ... troublesome.

Title: Re: Suburban AC install and upgrade
Post by: swissarmychainsaw on June 11, 2020, 12:04:52 pm

I need to add about 3 oz of PAG oil to this system.

I arrived at that number by looking at the manual and talking to the sales/tech, the original system (with dual AC!) had 3 oz more then the since evap system.

So assuming the compressor has enough oil in it for a single AC system, we then will add 3 oz for a dual.

How should I add the oil?

I need to pull a vacuum on it anyway, so it's open, now.

I'm seriously considering opening one of the rear lines and just pouring 3 oz in.
Considering the rear lines are 15 feet long, I don't think it should be a problem.

Title: Re: Suburban AC install and upgrade
Post by: bd on June 11, 2020, 12:31:14 pm

Does the system already contain PAG oil?  DO NOT MIX different types of refrigerant oil!

As long as the existing oil is PAG just dump it into the accumulator.