Sat, 10 May 1997
I have a '68 1800 that a previous owner removed the dealer installed air conditioner compressor from. I am thinking about installing a small style (Sankyo?) compressor and was wondering what you thought. I would like to be able to mount it low on the driver's side of the engine and avoid having to use an idler pulley. Does anyone make a kit to install a compressor of this type onto an 1800 with a "clean" installation, or am I going to have to build a bracket? My underdash unit seems to be in good shape, but the condenser under the hood has been open to the atmosphere for quite some time, and will need to be replaced. Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike Delany
delany@cy-net.net
Mike -
Last I heard, Robert Foltz was selling brackets to mount a Sankyo compressor to a B18 or B20 engine. Give him a call after 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at 718-863-0964 (New York). I believe there are other sources, but I don't have them handy.
Since R-12 refrigerant has been banned for home use, and since my stockpile of 14-ounce cans is down to five (two years' supply if no major leaks), I'm getting a little sweaty wondering when DuPont or somebody is going to come out with a substitute that I can use in my P1800. If it doesn't happen pretty soon, I'll be looking for a way to make R-134 work. Driving in the Texas summer without air conditioning is an experience I'd rather not relive.
I doubt your condenser needs to be replaced, unless it's damaged. You might want to flush out the tubing with compressed air or refrigerant before connecting the hoses. And you should always use a new receiver/dryer if the system has been open for more than a few minutes. The receiver/dryer is a cylinder about the size of a Coke can. On the 1800, it has a little glass window on top, where you can view the refrigerant flowing through the system.
Refilling the air conditioning system with refrigerant is a bit tricky and requires some special tools. If you're planning to do the work yourself, check the local library for books on automotive a/c.
Hope you get cool before summer. -Glenn.