[unruhjonny]

I have some stuff here I am trying to sort out;
They were from a guy who parted out cars some fourty or so years ago.

This is about AC parts;
I have what appears to be 2/3 of the AC ducting, as well as two compressors - one of which has lines and a dryer(?) connected to them.
I also have a large cast compressor bracket - and then I have from years ago (if I haven't tossed it a large cast iron bracket.

I think I have the ducts identified;
But regaurding the compressors and lines;
Can anyone tell me what to look for incase someone in this hobby might be able to use them?

These old compressors can be rebuilt correct?

[unruhjonny]

Here is a picture of the two compressors.

[kingbuzzo]

Looks like the dead one in the trunk of my '74 lol

Seems to me they can be rebuilt but the free-on type is banned and they have to be converted or switched to a completely different system.

[unruhjonny]

Which one - the one with the red, or yellow label?

I recharged my 1992 Chev truck last year with an R12 replacement;
I am pretty sure my trucks compressor is the leak.

It's the R12 refrigerant which is illegal in many areas to purchase.
The newer refridgerant is R134, which iirc is a smaller molecule(?), and can leak out easier if you try to just convert from R12 to R134.

I know people are running older systems with R12 or R12-substitute.
Many shops still recover R12... if you catch my drift.

[77 Canamman]

First off, it's NOT illegal to sell R12. To buy it LEGALLY, you must possess a EPA 609 license, which is easy to obtain online.

[unruhjonny]

cool!!

There is a big grey area north of the 49th;
As far as I know, it is illegal to sell it... that doesn't stop people who have it from recharging their systems

[ta6point6]

It looks like the yellow one is from a 76 and older Pontiac I think from the AC bracket that is attached. The red one looks it is from a larger GM vehicle guessing by the size of that AC muffler.

[unruhjonny]

thanks!

[77 Canamman]

The yellow "Delco Air" decal was used in '76-'81 with the Controlled Cycle Air Conditioning. The muffler sure looks like F body. The red decaled one looks like '73-'76 A, B, G body due to the muffler.

[unruhjonny]

I know the guy I got these from mostly parted Firebirds, but did do some other cars too, so anything is possible;
The full sized car 455 heads would attest to non-Firebird engines - and presumably those cars could have been parted by him...
My gut was that the red decal was older, and it looked like the gigantic compressor on my cousin's '71 TA... but I'm not an "a/c guy", so I don't know a whole lot about a/c parts.

[Tim68bird]

As 77 Canamman stated, R12 is not illegal and won't be until 2030. Legally, you're technically only allowed to purchase it with a license, but the EPA will not waste their time prosecuting small cans are sold, person to person. Regardless, I'd still go with 134a. As long as you start with a clean system and get your charge amount right (roughly 70-80% of the R12 charge), you'll get just as cold of temperatures.

As far as 2nd gen cars, there are many versions of a/c parts from 70-81. Aside from three major system designs that prevent parts from being mixed/matched, (2nd Gen F-Body 70-73, 74-76 & & 77-81) there are many other differences (compressor brackets, filter-drier/VIR/accumulator, condenser, hoses, evaporator unit, etc. It appears from the parts in your photos that the compressor with the hose assembly attached to it is a 77-78 and what brackets are attached to it are 73-81 Pontiac. Judging by the muffler assembly on the other compressor, it's likely from a mid-70's Pontiac, but not a Firebird. The I'm assuming you're working on a 1970 Formula, correct?

[eaglesan13]

Maybe this will help to identify some of the stuff you have.

[Tim68bird]

Also, if you can send me pictures of the other parts in the engine compartment, either installed or uninstalled, I should be able to identify them.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Johnny,
Companies have rebuilt these compressors, in the past,likely still do. You can buy a new one, not terribly expensive.

Either of those compressors could be used on your 70, all the stuff attached may not go on your AC sustem, especially the yellow labeled one. I looks like 77 and up stuff (looks like stuff on my TA). To be safe, you would need to drain the old refrig oil out of the compressor, install same amount of what you are using...

You need to check into what this replacement R12 is, that you have installed into your AC. There are many different types. All are blends of 2 or more types of refrigerant. I have heard that they do the job, cooling wise, BUT using a blend takes away you having your refrigerant recycled in the future. Recycling machines are made for one type of refrigerant only, although some machines can do 2 types, they are like having 2 different recycling machines in one...

One of the things that maybe not all folks have knowledge is refrigerant oil types.

R12 uses mineral oil.

R134 uses either PAG oil, which is synthetic, so this oil won't be a problem in your AC system.

Ester oil can be used in R12 or R134 systems. Makes it easy to convert to R134 from R12. Ester oil can break down and turn into a black tar substance. I've been advised to not use it, I never have. If your Ac system goes into black tar mode (called black death) you have to replace the condenser, evaperator and hoses...

I'm not the, end all, expert in AC info, but have experience working on the stuff, have licenses. I work on school buses, suburbans, pickups and vans for a school. I even have a license for the new R1234 stuff. in my training for this new stuff, we were told it is slightly flammable!!!

[unruhjonny]

thanks for all this info;
when I get back home I will sort it out.

To clarify, my car is not an A/C and I would be sorting this out not for myself, but to put something together for a local who might be in need of parts.