Kinda funny title, but it explains it. The high pressure side hose on my '70 F-100 blew out. Sprung a leak and blew all the R-134a out. After some choice words were said, I began to see this as an opportunity to do a number of things. The air conditioner never worked real good, just cooled to 60 on an 80 degree day, hotter on hotter days. Anyway, here's what I was thinking:

1. Use one of the R-12 alternatives other than R-134a. I've heard they work good.

2. Use the right kind of oil, meaning PAG instead of the ester oil I was using. If the refrigerant from #1 takes a different kind of oil, I'll use that. I was getting some light compressor squeaking just starting out.

3. Use one of those VOV expansion valves, anyone got any info on those? I think a plugged expansion valve is what caused the hose to blow. Additionally, anyone know how to install one of those? I'm kind of new at this.

 

Rusty it sounds like the prime oprotunity to do it up right.
1 flush the system, pull off the compressor, and condenser and drain out all the oil then flush separt.
2 replace the bad hose and put in a new accumulator.
3 go with a standard fixt orifice tube (red tube)if you mostly run the hyway or the VOV if you mostly run in town it will be in the hard pipng before the evaporator.
4 reassemble the system and put the oil charge in the compressor and and condenser per spec (PAG-42).
5 vacuum it down and check for leaks. when you get ready to charge it put in a can of maxi-cool first and then charge to 85% of the original R-12 charge by weight approx. dont go over 40 to 45 on the low side. keep a themometor in the vents run the a/c on high while charging look for an avaerage of 45 at the vents. and stop there if you are close to the 85% mark