I wrecked the front end a while back of my '88 and have replaced everything except the condenser (dont need it right now)
I converted my a/c to 134a and i was told that one of the reasons it doesnt cool as efficiently especially on retro-fitted cars is because the condenser is smaller and the volume of freon is less.
So if this is true, i was wondering what year they started putting 134a in from the factory and if the condenser would fit in my truck.....or would this make any difference at all?

 

They make a different condenser for it. The older style is the small tubes that snakes back and forth a bunch.

The new style for r-134a isnt really bigger, it just has a manifold on each side and individual tubes run in between them.

When i replaced it on my 93 i ordered the new style but was sent the old style and it has worked fine. It blows 30-36 on the hottest of days here in texas.

 

Wouldn't the evaporator be frozen if you're getting 30 degrees out of the vent?

 

30 to 36??? you gotta throw a coat on just to get in the truck and strip when you get out!!! wouldnt that defeat the purpose lol

 

I converted mine about 10 years ago. My compressor was already bad so I replaced it, the orifice tube and the evaporator. I replaced all the old o rings and charged away. I'm blowing 37-38 degree air from the vents with a good charge. I never touched the condenser.

 

Yes it would.

 

Yes, it could, but it take much longer then most think. You would have to leave it running for a couple days. And even then it depends on the amount of moisture in the air and the air flow across the evaporator. Iv never had a problem, but it doesn't hit below 32 unless the conditions are just right.


I wish, but in 110* temps, it hardly makes a dent.

Although i have opened the cab up on a hot day and singed my eyebrows off , the thermometer read 170* in the shade under the dash, So much for owning a dark blue truck with no tented windows in texas, the thing turns into an oven.

 

I would love to have temps like that, but after the conversion its only been cool and when i get into traffic i have to shut it off so it wont overheat the engine.

 

You need a new fan clutch. It will make a world of difference even at idle. They dont tend to last to long. The ones i got from oreillys have only lasted about a year. But they are free replacements and are easy to change.

You can test it by trying to turn it. It shouldn't turn freely. Also, when you shut the engine off, it should stop rather quickly. And if your still not sure, place a piece of card board in front of the radiator and let the engine heat up to the high side of normal on the gauge. Pull the cardboard out and rev the engine a little bit and it should sound like a plane and blow LOTS of air.

When you did the conversion did you change the orifice tube in the evaporator? If you didn't it can lead to poor A/C cooling. I cant remember which color the 134a is supposed to be, but blue keeps poping into my head at the moment.

Im also running a 12in electric fan in front of the condenser and it helps noticeably.

 

oooppps, i just read that red works best.

 

i just put a brand new dual-core rad in there and im hoping that will solve my problems. fan clutch is good. i would love to convert to electric fans until i saw the price tag for a setup with auto on/off. i think it was like $500!!!

 

I'm well aware that Virginia summers are not as brutal as the South West but I still can't see these trucks overheating and not getting enough air flow to create nice cool a/c. Mine is bone stock and I replaced my fan clutch about 12 years ago. She blows good a/c and the engine stays cool (normal) doing it.

 

I replaced my radiator with the biggest one i could get my hands on. The core is close to or over 3in thick and in the summer under normal driving it will run 205* under heavy loads on hills it will see 220* and if im sitting idle with a/c it will sit a 215*. Highest iv ever seen it was 230*, and that was nosed up to a hedge with a trailer stopping for lunch. The hedge restricted the air flow enough to warm her up a bit.

I wouldn't go for the full replacement electric fans. There is just no way to get the same amount of airflow. A helper in front on the radiator is good. i got my fan for $75 and just wired to the ignition and a switch, so in the summer ill leave the switch on all the time, and the fan turns on when i start the truck and runs till i shut it off. In the winter i'll leave it off when its not needed.