im with him worst thing happen is it not work and have to change everything anyway

besides that its just $50 extra if it doesnt work

 

what happens when you use the auto parts store "quick conversion" kits is called black death by A/C folks, cause after it runs for a while everything inside the A/C lines turns black just before the compressor seizes due to the incompatability of the oil that plugs up the orifice tube..

 

Most all Ford trucks came from the factory short on oil.
There is a TSB out to add more oil to them or the compressor will lock up.
TSB 97-10-5.

 

well hell from what everyone is saying u need a new compressor condenser drier orifice tube

xD thats pretty much the whole damn system so screw it and as far as u cant vent r-12 into the atmosphere i have a valve core remover that says different

yea its illegal and if the epa is right next to u ur going to get one hell of a fine

so the way i see it is if u try it and it tears up it doesnt matter because u have to change all of it anyway

 

Before I would waste money with a backyard R-134a conversion and risk ruining all the lines, condenser, compressor, etc. open up the system, pull the orifice tube to see what kind of crud is on it. If it is reasonably clean, install a new tube, receiver/dryer and every o-ring you can find on the a/c lines. Pump it down, make sure it holds a vacuum then install one of the R-12 drop in replacements such as Freeze 12, Autofrost, Duracool. Do some research, then pick one. Most run ~$8-12 a can.

Charge the system by weight. Then check your vent temperatures and pressures. If it blows up then you know it was a failing component not an issue of an incompatible refrigerant. O-rings run $6 for a bag of universal fit, the last receiver dryer I purchased was about $28 shipped to my door. The orifice tube was about $4 at Advance Auto. I had some leftover AutoFrost (R-406a) from another project, they originally set me back about $8 a can 7 years ago. Add in $10 for the conversion fittings. So for around $60 you can have a decent working system again without having to worry if it is going to implode on itself.

 

This is the way to go I think. The R-406a AutoFrost stuff is compatible with the mineral oils, nearly nonflammable, and it's still cheap. I'd gladly change my filter/drier/orificetube/whatchamacallit and seals and drop this into my Torino's R-12 system. My AC system WORKS, it's just not cold enough for Texas heat. Today for example, it was 70's and rainy, and it was FINE. But next week when it's sunny and 96, I might as well roll down the windows and shut the AC off.

 

I filled my '92 F350 with R-406a last fall when I replaced the condenser, orifice tube and receiver/drier. It works great as a drop in replacement for R-12 systems. R-406a is supposed to cool a little better than R-12, but I suspect your Torino would still need a boost with the extreme Texas heat. I was in Dallas last week, 100+ every evening!

If you do get serious with the A/C system consider using a red orifice tube instead of the factory blue. That should help you out for little cost. If your vent temps and pressures are still high you might consider a custom parallel flow condenser.