CitrusPilot

To keep the car original R-12 refrigerant is obviously the correct type to use. However its $30.00 a pound. So would it make much difference to a potential buyer if I changed it to R-134A?? Afterall thats only about $5.00 a pound. And I have heard that the R-134A doesnt cool as well as R-12. Is it that much of a difference or not much at all?

Sorry to be so vague but I am trying to decide which freon to buy and the time is drawing nearer. Original R-12 for added value by keeping the car original or R-134A for a bargain all the way around??? :banghead:

Thanks for the advise!

Jeff :chevy


[Modified by CitrusPilot, 5:03 PM 3/18/2004]

markdtn

If you just need to add some, stay R12. Total system re-do, then go 134. In my opinion I would stay R12 until you can't get it anymore. What is $100 to the total price of a $15-30k car? Whatever you do DON'T go with a blend. In a blend the molecules are different sizes, you can lose all the small ones and have the big ones left-then the system will be out of balance and require a total evacuate and recharge. My .02

fjetb

I just did a total evac and re-charged with R-134A.
Seems as cold as any other car I've had.
Still workin on the blower, though!
Besides...isn't the R-134A more environmentally friendly?
:flag

comp

:iagree: i have 2 1/2 cs. of r-12 got for repairs and TRUE resto's i'm going to the newer small compressor and 134a on my 76 P/U for space,ease
of repair cost, etc. :thumbs: OH YA' for the planet to :hurray:

Never Finished

I plan to go R-134 on this iteration of the A/C. I have 12 cans of Freon left from my mega purchase several years ago, but R-134 is so much easier to get and the charging hoses seal so much better. I won't have to worry as much about losing the Freon (It seems like a seal breaks, the hose leaks, or something happens to waste some Freon). Use the ester oil and a variable orifice tube and it will cool fine.

Here's another hint. The pathway from the cowl to the evaporator has vitually nothing to stop crap from getting in. I redid everything last year except the evaporator, and of course went with R-12 for the refill. I was very disappointed in the results. It didn't cool very well at all. When I took it apart in January (the engine is out and I'm fixing everything I can), I found leaves and debris clogging 5/6 of the evaporator surface. Small wonder why it wasn't cooling properly. I plan to put a screen on the cowl side to block the big stuff.

JBR

$30.00 a pound for r-12 is not a bad deal. A full recharge won't be over 2 1/2 pounds. A full evac. job will be more than that.

KenSny

I did the same thing. R12 is not worth spending the extra money for. Talk to the folks at http://www.id-usa.com then see how easy it is to use your existing equipment with R134A.