[Shotimes] More A/C questions!

[George Fourchy]

On Wed, 03 Sep 2003 18:43:52 -0400, Leigh Smith wrote:

>As far as efficiency there is a loss of efficiency with the R134. Enough 
>so that Ford and others put larger condensors on the R134 cars, and that 
>is the reason the official Ford R12 to 134 conversion kit cost is so 
>high. 

I'd heard that too, before I converted the Lowrider, in 1999.  I knew that I'd be
keeping it, though, so I wanted servicing to be possible, and cheaper, in the
future.  Turns out that it hasn't needed any servicing at all since then.  Now, the
original pressure switch is finally going out, so that it won't cool once in a
while, until it feels like it.  That never is more than a few minutes, so far.  It
hasn't run more than a few minutes total since it was hit in April, but when it came
home last week, I ran the A/C, and it worked perfectly.  When it's on the road
again, I'll get that switch replaced, then it'll go on until the end of its active
career, in Aug of 2004, with no service needed.  (As long as everyone else and their
bumpers STAY AWAY from it!!)

>But for only a 10-15% BTU difference, I have been told you won't 
>notice it except in Arizona or when it is 100+F outside!

The first few days it was in the car, with the original condensor and evaporator
(still there now), the R134 conversion kept the inside down to 65F (18C) degrees (in
Auto, with the fan idling) in eastern Nevada, on the way to Indiana (before the
coolant leaked out of the bad liquid line), when the outside temperature was 114F
(46C).   It was so cold inside that I had to wear a long sleeved shirt.  I loved
every minute of it.  It hadn't been able to do that with R12 since it was one year
old.

Seems pretty efficient to me......

Any and all SHOs that operate out of my driveway will have mandatory R134
conversions (complete conversions) before they are considered 'in comission'.  I
have three kits stockpiled at my A/C shop (the one I recommend to everyone around
here), for future use.  They'll also get the new condensors, to make the system work
less hard, and last longer....hey, I'm reasonable!!  I'm glad to hear about that
upgrade .....thanks!!

George and the Lowrider (still alive and kicking!....both of us!)