cost/issues to recharge a/c on a '73

[turpentyne]

Hi there.. I recently bought a '73 C20 with a 424. The a/c still is functioning, which is amazing here in the deserts of Arizona. Old ones usually get used to death.

But there's not much cold air left, and I've never gotten an old a/c recharged in the modern day. I know one or two refrigerants have fallen out of use since this truck rolled off the assembly line.

Any pitfalls? Any thoughts on what to expect, and what it might cost? What are the odds I can get/afford the original refrigerant? I would prefer to put off the cost of updating the a/c for a little while. Just trying to get the lay of the land before I go talking to shops around town.

thanks!

[audrima]

I recharged my rx7's r12 system it cost me $400. and only one shop in town could do it. I spent the $50 to convert rest of my cars over to r134a and paid the $100 to get it charged anywere. (this was bout 7 years ago)


Aud

[roundhouse]

If it still works I'd just pick up a can or two of R-12

I see em for sale here and there
Keep an eye on CL in your area
Set up one of those software alerts that sent you a text when an ad gets posted with your keywords

If your system didnt work and If you have to open the system and replace parts to fix it.  Then I'd convert

But a few years ago I picked up an old 86 Mazda for $200 and the air blew cool but not cold

And I just added a can of 138
   Didn't replace any O rings or oil or anything and it worked fine for several more years

[VileZambonie]

Just retrofit it unless someone has some freeze 12 locally but I'm not endorsing alternative refrigerants so I would just retrofit. R134A is dirt cheap and works great

[78BIG-TEN]

Agree with Vile,retrofit the best way to go

[roundhouse]

If yours still blows cold and just needs a little more refrigerant , I'd get a can of the old stuff
There's still some avail from people cleaning out garages and attics

If you have to crack your system open and service it
New compressor or whatever. Then you might wanna switch to R-134a

The only thing wrong with R-12 was the patent ran out and DuPont couldn't make money on it anymore
   So they paid the EPA to require a new one. Which they had just patented

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/4729191749.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/pts/4682843932.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/pts/4732291704.html

[NCali]

The only thing wrong with R-12 was the patent ran out and DuPont couldn't make money on it anymore
   So they paid the EPA to require a new one. Which they had just patented

If I understand this correctly Dupont Paid the EPA to make up a cover story about ozone depletion
and phase out the use of that type of refrigerant, and then Dupont  goes back and gets a patent on a refrigerant that is no longer used?

[Dr_Snooz]

The only thing wrong with R-12 was the patent ran out and DuPont couldn't make money on it anymore
   So they paid the EPA to require a new one. Which they had just patented

Ironic that on the 20th anniversary of the last ban (and when patent protection expires on the new refrigerant), we get a greenhouse gas flap about 134 and a lot of bluster about banning it as well. Europe has already banned it and the US tried, but the memories of the R12 ban were still too fresh, and there was a lot of pushback. As a "compromise," lawmakers slapped a big tax on 134 and called it good. That's why you pay double for it now. R134 is set to be banned in new cars at some point. I expect that they will ban it altogether eventually as well.

I drove around without AC for 10 years following the R12 ban because I was too poor to afford the thousands of dollars it cost to convert. This time, I've run propane instead. It's not ideal, but it is cheap and not likely to be banned.

[78BIG-TEN]

Propane in an a\c system.Very dangerous

[Dr_Snooz]

So I keep hearing.

[VileZambonie]

It doesn't cost thousands to retrofit and running a combustible gas or noxious gas in your AC system is just asking for trouble.

[Dr_Snooz]

It cost thousands in the years following the R12 ban. My neighbor spent $2,500 for the dealer to retrofit her Honda. The cost came down when it finally came out that 134 wouldn't cause green goo and purple gummy bears to form in an R12 system. But that was nearly 10 years later. In the interim, the shops made a lot of money doing extensive retrofits. For the poor people like me, we got to drive around with the windows down in 110 deg. heat hoping that we would be too smelly by the time we got to work.

Getting into a cost/benefit analysis of propane refrigerant is going to drag this thread way off topic, so suffice it to say that I've done my due diligence, am aware of the risks and am willing to take those risks. If it's a topic that people are interested in, it might be better to discuss it in a separate thread.

[roundhouse]

Your  Neighbor  got ripped off
Which was exactly why DuPont bribed the right congressmen to get the r12 outlawed
The patent expired and they were no longer making any $$ from r12
I've converted em just by dumping 134 in

Few years ago we bought a 86 Mazda for $200

We figured WTH it's a $200 car why not try it

We bought the 134 fittings , screwed em on top of the r12 fittings and filled it with 134

It worked great for years
We didn't change o rings or oil or anything

Plus. As I demonstrated earlier
R12 is still available for not much more than 134

I have several cans left over from years ago
My dad had a case in his garage attic
There's still quite a few cans floating around
If you have a r12 system that still sortof works and just needs topping off
Buy a can or two on Craigslist and top it off
If your system is open or has been open for years where someone removed the compressor 10 years ago
Then you should get a new comp and condensor and go back with 134


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[78BIG-TEN]

I started doing conversions in about 94 when the price for 12 went sky high.A 30 lb jug running 7 to 800 dollars.134 was like 69.00.Initially we were told by the manufacturers of a\c components that everything would have to be changed less compressor,evaporator,and condenser.Initial projected costs were 700 and up.That all eventually changed.Personally I've done hundreds of conversions without any incidence at all.My process was to simply flush system,replace drier\accumulator,which should be done anytime a system is opened,add correct type and amount of oil for the system,fittins and charge with 134.Install a label so the next guy will know what is there.The thing is if you were working with one that already had a compressor failure ,then all the work to retro-fit was done in the replacement procedure,thus actually saving the customer dollars in the end.The fact of the matter is a lot of shops and dealers took advantage of the situation and screwed people out of their had earned dollars.If shops were doing a compressor replacement the right way and not cutting corners and then charge big bucks to retro-fit on top of that is nothing short of stealing IMHO.Bottom line is if you don't have the experience or knowledge to do it right,then don't do it.Take it to someone that does and you know to be honest.He or she does have a right to make a profit but not the right to bend you over.Whenever it come to repairs outside your realm of expertise,educate yourself on it so you'll know what is fair.Knowledge is the keySorry for the long post,guess I'm just venting, but I'm so tired of hearing shops overcharging or selling work that people don't need,makes the good guys look bad.
David