My coupe by 66Lincoupe

3 minute(s) of a 130 minute read

Thank you for all of the kind words!

Sitting waiting for a drive... Sunrise in Arizona!

9-28-2014

So I was cleaning Frankenstein up a bit; getting the dust from sitting outside these past few weeks off and just getting ready to start working on him again. I started taking a look back... I bought him in December 2006 so eight years ago he looked like this... leaking every fluid, seized brakes, mismatched tires and just generally yuck:

12-1-2014

Well, I have my first big project planned. My A/C stopped working (it was a functioning R12 system) and in Arizona with a black on black car A/C is not a "don't really need" option. The compressor seized but I was half expecting something with the system to come up as I hadn't really done anything except check and top up the refrigerant and oil... Sooo I am going to go with the Sanden compressor R134a conversion. I have used the Sanden compressor 134a conversion on a couple classics I had here before and was more than pleased with the function. 

As soon as parts arrive I will detail the build here.

2-26-2015

No A/C yet, just enjoying the mild temperatures and perfect driving weather.

"All" that needs to be changed is the compressor (the Sanden is more efficient), the receiver/dryer, and the expansion valve (TXV). Then while everything is apart the lines, evaporator and condenser need to be flushed. If you have the line with the big "muffler" it will need to be replaced with straight line. The Sanden doesn't produce the same pulses as the York compressor so it isn't as noisy and won't cause unwanted vibration through the lines so the "muffler" isn't required. With the Sanden you won't win points for originality so losing the weird parts of the system isn't a big deal in that area. All of the original controls will work the same as they do now. If your system works electrically then the swap is gravy - just exchanging parts (and adding appropriate oil and refrigerant). 

I had a Sanden conversion on my '66 Cadillac and it was wonderful. Maybe not as cold as the R12, but it was cold enough to be comfortable here during monsoons and really nice on those 110 degree days.