R12 to r134 conversion

[lvwill]

I'm in the process of a 5.0 swap on the little B2. It most definitely has to have a/c . I want to do this one time and have it work as good as it can. The engine and fead is from an 89 mustang. I want to use as many oem parts as possible and have the a/c work as good as it can. Are there any other options as far as condenser and evaporator that would work better with r134 than the standard replacement for the b2?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

IIRC they had both one row and two row condensers, not sure what got the two row but for your bigger cabin I would shop for one of those (possibly Explorer?)

I just have a single row stashed for mine but I have a standard cab, shouldn't take as much to cool.

 

[adsm08]

The metal parts you don't need to worry about. The rubber is what needs to be right. R12 is bigger than R134a, so R12 rubber is allowed to be more porous, but that means that R134a can leak through R12 rubber.

Any new replacement lines will be made from R134a rubber.

 

[4x4junkie]

I've read that once used with R-12, something about either the R-12 itself, or maybe the oil or (?) makes the hoses less porous to R-134a molecules, so they can subsequently be used with R-134a. However I would replace every hose just for the simple fact we're dealing with nearly 30-year-old parts.

I did a R-12 to R-134a conversion on my '90 (though it's not 5.0L-swapped). It cools awesome (about 38-40°F out the center vents). The condenser & evap are stock OE, which appear (by just looking at them) to be exact same parts as on my '94, which came factory with R-134a.
You didn't mention what year your BII is, but if 89 or '90, I don't think you would have to change anything really (other than replacement of anything old/worn/broken/damaged). '88 & older I recall did have a different condenser than '90 last time I looked, I don't know what it's performance on R-134a would be. Maybe worth checking to see if the Mustang condenser is the same as for a '89 or '90 BII too (I've seen stuff like this before, can't hurt to check).

Here's a thread from when I did my conversion:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21719

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

'88 & older I recall did have a different condenser than '90 last time I looked, I don't know what it's performance on R-134a would be

2.9's do have a different hose routing than a 4.0. 2.9 has both on the passenger side of the condenser and 4.0's have one on each side.

 

[lvwill]

It's a 90. P.o. said it was working when I bought it but I never even tried it. Bought it over the winter. The plan is to replace basically everything while it's apart.
Thanks for the replies and info

 

[adsm08]

It's a 90. P.o. said it was working when I bought it but I never even tried it. Bought it over the winter. The plan is to replace basically everything while it's apart.
Thanks for the replies and info

I bought one of those once. I was told the air worked, but it was December and 12* out, so I couldn't really test that. Summer rolled around, no cold air, had access to a refrigerant analyzer that told you what was in the system, so I checked that out, it was butane.

Sold that truck to my dad, AC still doesn't work.

 

[Denisefwd93]

It's a 90. P.o. said it was working when I bought it but I never even tried it. Bought it over the winter. The plan is to replace basically everything while it's apart.
Thanks for the replies and info

Assuming you're changing the radiator, use the condenser that fits the radiator from what I understand you have to modify the sheet metal a little bit to make it all work anyway. the refrigerant lines are easy to have made up. There are also aftermarket condensers just like everything else.

 

[mikkelstuff]

You might consider using one of the R134a alternatives like EnviroSafe. I think these are all methane-butane-propane replacements. I finally used it in my '75 Ranchero and it not only worked but stayed working. Apparently the larger molecules are less likely to leak through the hoses.

 

[fastpakr]

What's the EPA stance on all the alternate refrigerants? I thought they wouldn't allow any of the flammable versions in mobile A/C.

 

[adsm08]

What's the EPA stance on all the alternate refrigerants? I thought they wouldn't allow any of the flammable versions in mobile A/C.

It is highly recommended against for safety sake, let alone the environment.

 

[Denisefwd93]

It just isn't terribly expensive to change any system over to 134a people seem to have this mind set of terribly high costs that really aren't true IMO

There are some people using throld hoses with 134 andfeel it wasn't worth the trouble to change even the hose I have no experience with that, just passing it on.

New hoses, evaporator and condenser for my truck were well under $300

 

[4x4junkie]

2.9's do have a different hose routing than a 4.0. 2.9 has both on the passenger side of the condenser and 4.0's have one on each side.

My 2.9L has the inlet on the driver side of the condenser, the outlet (to liquid line) is on the passenger side. Again, it appears to be the same unit my '94 has that came w/R-134a (certainly the tube structure/amount of cooling area is the same).


Edit:
Or maybe you were referring to just '86-'88 2.9L condensers...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What's the EPA stance on all the alternate refrigerants? I thought they wouldn't allow any of the flammable versions in mobile A/C.

They used to use propane back in the day actually. A long time ago but it was supposed to work very well.

It just isn't terribly expensive to change any system over to 134a people seem to have this mind set of terribly high costs that really aren't true IMO

There are some people using the old hoses with 134 andfeel it wasn't worth the trouble to change even the hose I have no experience with that, just passing it on.

We recommend new hoses when we switch over tractors, some guys don't go for it and usually they get along ok. There are A LOT of hoses on a tractor to get from in front of the engine up the back of the cab.

For no more than they are for an RBV I intend to go new though.

My 2.9L has the inlet on the driver side of the condenser, the outlet (to liquid line) is on the passenger side. Again, it appears to be the same unit my '94 has that came w/R-134a (certainly the tube structure/amount of cooling area is the same).


Edit:
Or maybe you were referring to just '86-'88 2.9L condensers...

Me wonders if it was a change for '90. I did a little poking around in the JY a few weeks ago and noticed all the 4.0's had the one pipe on each side. The sole 2.9 (an '89 BII) had both on the PS like a first gen.

If it had a 4.0 it would be '90 or later... like yours.

I figured they changed it for the new 4.0, didn't figure they would carry over the other style for one year with the facelift.

 

[lvwill]

Did a little research on rock auto and it looks like from 90 - 94 the condenser and evaporator are all the same.