IS this a really big deal? Any idea on what costs and the best place to get parts? I think the compressor is going out and figure I might just go ahead and take the plunge.

 

I purchased a conversion kit from the local auto parts store, and had no problems whatsoever. Blows plenty cold for me. Just switched over an old Grand Am, too, which has been working fine as well. On my car I pulled a vacuum on the system prior to charging, on the Grand Am, I did not. Both are working fine.

 

Well, according to my parent's AC mechanic, he gets customers that come in all the time claiming that they are getting r134a leaks like crazy when they converted. He says that its not that much more expensive for him to fill it up on r12 than the new stuff. Basically he is saying that the conversion is worthless and will just leak.

 

I hope that he is wrong, or I am going to be using a lot of R134! I still had about ten pounds of R12 left, but just thought it made more sense to get the conversion over, since I will run out of the old stuff eventualy. I guess time will tell....

 

All you really need is a low side conversion fitting. The R12 system isn't going to leak out the R134a if it wasn't leaking R12. I converted around 10 John Deere tractors last month and all I changed was adding low and high side conversion fittings. Pull a vacuum on it for 20 minutes to clean the old stuff out and then see if the vacuum will hold for an hour. If so charge away.

Martin

 

Went ahead and had the AC work done. 720 bucks for new compressor, dryer, some lines, and some R12. I dont know anything about AC systems....

But in the future if I have problems (that he wont cover) is it possible to just scrap EVERYTHING that might mess with a conversion? I mean is it really possible to just replace every single line, fitting, etc so that it will not leak r134a without a doubt, no problem at all?

 

I just converted my '91 firebird. Pressure at 0 psi guage, then filled with PAG oil and R134a, A/C works great. Check thirdgen.org tech articles. This only cost ~$50 and maybe 1 hour of work.

 

I did the conversion 5 years ago, no problems.
You have to change the valve when you do it, cause the valve will weak but esle everything is ok.