A/C Recomendations

[78 Chevyrado]

It's time to totally redo my A/C.  It's leaky and most of it's giving up on me so I'm replacing all of the stuff under the hood.

I'm putting it back in the stock config, just updating it for R-134. 

Any recomendations on specific brands of parts I should use or avoid? 

Any tips on taking the A/C box apart on the firewall to get to the evaporator?

[VileZambonie]

Why are you removing the evaporator? Replace the orifice tube, buy an A/C O-ring kit, get a new accumulator and just clean everything else. Here's the oil I like http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=ester+oil+with+uv+dye&um=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1051&bih=751&wrapid=tlif130707288823410&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=435843225827651015&sa=X&ei=glnoTY1dxPeAB5So8cYB&ved=0CGAQ8wIwBA#

Or are you going with a vintage air type set up?

[Edahall]

You need to find where it's leaking.  First replace all the O-rings and schrader valves then pull a vacuum on it and see if it holds.  If it doesn't, pressurize the system with an air compressor and use some soapy water to locate the leak. 

[78 Chevyrado]

The compressor is leaking and rough and the clutch is worn out, and the condensor leaks, and the evaporator end got screwed up removing the orifice tube.  Got a little ill at it and ended up messing up the threads on the fitting.    

The system I have is the original system that came on it new in '78.  everything is original except the orifice tube and accumulator.  Actually the seals where the lines connect are doing fine, it's just the compnents leaking.  I have one of those sniffers and a black light to hunt for leaks.

So it's a nice mix of R-12 and R-134.  Surprised it lasted this long.

I'm planning on putting it back like bone stock.  From what I've read around on the net and in books and talking to people, converting to a smaller pump for fuel mileage wont give me enough of an advantage to be worth it to me, and most places agree that the A6 compressor is more effecient at cooling than an R4 or sanden.  Really, the only thing I don't need, is the A/C suction lines, but they're cheap enough, I'd just get them too.

All this started because I had a blockage at the orifice tube, so I went to replace it and I've just decided to finally quit band-aiding it and do it up properly.  I've been just filling it up with R-134 every so often and running it.

I'll try out that oil ya listed for me, thanks vile!  I hadn't gotten that far yet.  I have the R-134, but I can't order the rest until next thursday.  I've been looking at the 4-season brand stuff, anybody have annything good or bad to say about them?  I also found some Delco stuff where available.  And an adjustable Normal climate (105F or less) orifice tube.