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Old 04-23-2024, 11:42 AM
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nUcLeArEnVoY nUcLeArEnVoY is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Homestead, FL
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If it was running R-12 with all the original equipment, it would've probably been cooling very well. Those old R-12 systems would freeze you out of the car and the components were best suited for that higher molecular weight refrigerant. A common complaint when converting to R134a is reduced cooling, and the main reason for that is outdated components better suited for R-12, in particular the condenser. The old style tube and fin condensers don't have enough surface area to appropriately dissipate the higher heat conductivity of R134a, so upgrading to a parallel flow condenser and changing out your old clogged evap core will pay dividends in the performance of your AC system. New lines and a more efficient compressor wouldn't hurt, either. If you want to stick strictly to an A6 compressor, the best new units are sold by a company called Alma products, as they used the same tooling GM used. Another option are the newer style aluminum-bodied A6-derived compressors you'll see - they have the same dimensions as an A6, but are lighter, more efficient, and made of bare aluminum rather than painted steel. Finally, upgrade to a Sanden compressor for peak efficiency; but they're smaller in size than an A6 compressor, so you'll probably have to find brackets that'll mount it to your engine.

Blower motors are a point of contention for the stock HVAC systems, sadly. Our old cars didn't have as efficient ducting as modern cars do. Measures you can take to maximize the CFM output for each given blower setting is to make sure all your ductwork is accounted for (oftentimes parts are missing); reseal the main distribution duct to the heater/AC box with new foam; add foam to the slide-in joints for all the ducts to further seal in the system (which the factory did not do) or wrap the joints with ducting tape; make sure your AC and heater cases are properly sealed to the firewall; make sure your blower motor is properly sealed to the firewall; make sure your diverter doors and actuators hold vacuum and work and that the vacuum lines for the different modes are all in working order; and again, replace your evap core. While it may never blow with as much force as a modern car's blower motor, you will maximize how much CFM it can output by taking these measures. There's a thread here somewhere about swapping the blower motors for a modern unit that can be retrofitted and alleged to output more CFM, but the results were ultimately unfounded. I think the blower motor in question is for Astro vans from the 80's and 90's, and although they do fit, they apparently didn't make much of a difference. I don't think it's a matter of the blower, I think it's a matter of the distribution of air through the ducting.

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Last edited by nUcLeArEnVoY; 04-23-2024 at 11:58 AM.