My experience with A/C

[That Guy]

For over 8 years, the 97 has had no air conditioning. I just rebuild it entirely with all new parts, including lines. Yesterday, I think I got the charge correct and managed to get ~25-30* vent temps on high with recirculate. It was 97 yesterday and and I measured 75* on the floor after 30 minutes. All of this is at idle, though I did rig up a fan on the condenser to bring the highs down from 250-275. Currently, my pressures are 30-35 and 200-225.

 

Used a parallel flow micro tube condenser and an evap that had most of the foam seal around it. I also replaced all the foam in the air box and replaced the blower motor.

The new (not reman) compressor is a Denso. The old system was never replaced after the wreck and remained open for a long time which is why I bought all new stuff when my old was still working when broke. The old system also had a clogged evap from dirt and crud so airflow was abysmal.

 

Yesterday, I charged up the system after being under full vacuum for a good week, and my variable orifice tube failed within about 5 minutes. So I bring the system back down, pull it apart at the Otube and the top falls off while the bottom remains in the condenser. A lag bolt of appropriate size got it out. with no fuss. New one is a blue fixed orifice. Pulled vacuum again, recharged, beautiful cold air. I don't have scales suited for a 30lb tank, so I added a little at a time until the performance was tip top. Didn't freeze up after 2 hours, so I think I'm either close or spot on.It is frigid in there now. I love it.

 

Now to install seats out of a 24v CCLB.....speaking of those, any of you 24v guys happen to know the height of that spacer under the front mount of your seats? I think its ~1". I saw it in a pull-a-part the other day and didn't measure it then.

Edited July 31, 2020 by That Guy

[dripley]

11 minutes ago, That Guy said:

For over 8 years, the 97 has had no air conditioning. I just rebuild it entirely with all new parts, including lines. Yesterday, I think I got the charge correct and managed to get ~25-30* vent temps on high with recirculate. It was 97 yesterday and and I measured 75* on the floor after 30 minutes. All of this is at idle, though I did rig up a fan on the condenser to bring the highs down from 250-275. Currently, my pressures are 30-35 and 200-225.

 

Used a parallel flow micro tube condenser and an evap that had most of the foam seal around it. I also replaced all the foam in the air box and replaced the blower motor.

The new (not reman) compressor is a Denso. The old system was never replaced after the wreck and remained open for a long time which is why I bought all new stuff when my old was still working when broke. The old system also had a clogged evap from dirt and crud so airflow was abysmal.

 

Yesterday, I charged up the system after being under full vacuum for a good week, and my variable orifice tube failed within about 5 minutes. So I bring the system back down, pull it apart at the Otube and the top falls off while the bottom remains in the condenser. A lag bolt of appropriate size got it out. with no fuss. New one is a blue fixed orifice. Pulled vacuum again, recharged, beautiful cold air. I don't have scales suited for a 30lb tank, so I added a little at a time until the performance was tip top. Didn't freeze up after 2 hours, so I think I'm either close or spot on.It is frigid in there now. I love it.

 

Now to install seats out of a 24v CCLB.....speaking of those, any of you 24v guys happen to know the height of that spacer under the front mount of your seats? I think its ~1". I saw on in a pull-a-part the other day and didn't measure it then.

I put some seats out of a late model 2nd into my 02 but dont remember any spacers. Just unbolted the old and thru the new to e ones in.

[That Guy]

In the 24v quad cabs, the cab is basically the same except the floor pan has a spacer/riser/structural piece under the front supports of the drivers seats. The standard cabs do not have it, their mounts are exactly like 94-97. It is under the carpet, runs from the one mount to the other. I'm assuming it is a structural piece for rigidity or just strength because of the lack of a B pillar, assuming that it would be called a B pillar.

[dripley]

If its under the carpet thats why l would not have seen it. All I did was bolt off and bolt on.

Edited July 31, 2020 by dripley

[Doubletrouble]

 I recently charged my a/c. It was working but not well, I believe there may have been a slight leak somewhere. I added some freon and for it working better but my high side pressure it to high and the low side is low. I am pretty sure the orfice tube is partially plugged. I'll be changing it when I open the system to do the heater core and HVAC box R&R.

[That Guy]

5 hours ago, Doubletrouble said:

 I recently charged my a/c. It was working but not well, I believe there may have been a slight leak somewhere. I added some freon and for it working better but my high side pressure it to high and the low side is low. I am pretty sure the orfice tube is partially plugged. I'll be changing it when I open the system to do the heater core and HVAC box R&R.

 

I agree, sounds like Otube. For transparency sake.... Mine failed open, so I didn't see enough of a pressure differential. Low was like 60-70 and high was 100-120.

 

 

[Mopar1973Man]

I typically aim for about 35-40 PSI lo side and about 225-250 PSI hi side.