oledave60

So, yesterday I got my nerve up and decided to charge up the A/C. The condenser and evaporator were removed and flushed. The VIR has had a rebuild kit installed. Rebuilt A6 compressor and new hoses.

I have been guarding 5 12 oz cans of R12 for over a year and a half. Pulled a vacuum for about an hour and let it set for about 2 hours and all was good.

Started charging and on the fourth can and about 200 PSI oil started spraying out of the VIR onto the manifold. It seems to have come from the area where the dryer part bolts to the upper part, new gasket and bolts were tight.

Lost all my R12 and now must start over. I won't to convert to 134a and have spent most of the morning researching and reading old post, but cannot find any specific information as to what is necessary to convert.

Here's my plan. Flush system again, drain and change oil in compressor,
and install a VIR eliminator. This I am not sure of, but it just seems like it would be better.

Am I on the right track and what else do I need to do? Thanks, Dave

myk7

I'd find out why it leaked before I did anything. Why do you feel the need to flush the system and change the compressor oil? Was that not done before? Was the dryer changed?

oledave60

To change to 134a the system would need to be completely flushed as it now has mineral oil in it and from what I have read it will no mix with 134a. The leak is somewhere in the VIR and If I go with a VIR eliminator it really wouldn't matter.

I just would like to know if the eliminator with 134a will work.

redwingvette

Yes it will. You have to install a switch that comes with the eliminator kit. You will also have to do some adjusting to the mount for the tank to mount in place of the VIR valve, they are not the same size. The switch ties into the current compressor clutch green wire. I went a step further and replaced the compressor and condenser because my compressor locked-up at the time. Later I replaced the eliminator with a later model evaporator and accumulator tank because my eavp went bad.
My install page

oledave60

Thanks for the reply. That will be my next try at A/C. R12 is just too much of a problem.

redwhitekat

Fix leak first then find a refrige guy to sell you some r401 or r409 a no need for oil change just a drop in for the r12

gcusmano74

If you are changing to R134a, is the an adjustment that needs to be done somewhere in the VIR unit?

70ZZ3 96LT4

What is a VIR on a 1975 Corvette?

oledave60

Well I don't know what is going on, but after the oil spray and smoke I shut everything off just knowing I had a leak. Drank a few cool ones and took a break.

Today, I hooked-up the gauges and started motor. Low side was 40 and high side was 185. Temp was about 85 and it's blowing fairly cold. Not enough air, but what is there is pretty cool. There is oil around the VIR, but it's been about two days and still has pressure.

I will keep checking, but for now I have A/C. Also, today I ordered a 95 C4 blower fan.