[80 grit]

...point me in the right direction. LMC does not sell this part:grrrrrr:

I checked a few local junk yards, and the internet search is coming up blank. I don't know how this one is all cracked up, but someone had it "rigged up" with L brackets and duct tape:grrrrrr:

Worst case scenario I may be able to re shape it with some fiberglass, etc. Thanks guys.

Joe

 

[Crawdaddy]

You've already come up with the 2 suggested solutions. There are a reasonable number of burbs out by me that are in the junkyard. If you're willing to wait a few weeks for me to get some time to get over to the junkyard and pull one, I can do that. Aside from junkyards, alot of these parts are starting to be made from the element "unobtainum".

 

[80 grit]

Crawdaddy,

Thanks a bunch man, that is mighty righteous of you. I just got in from messing with it for a few hours. I did a better "rig" job and I tested it and it is running fine without any rubbing. I had to make four new "ears" as the old ones were snapped off. I also had to use some fiberglass putty to repair the thin part of the housing that broke off. I used plumbers strap to make the ears and to give a little extra support where needed. I think it will hold just fine.

Somewhere today I read that switching these R 12 systems to R 134 is not the best idea, but others have said nonsense. The reason I mention this is I'd hate to be going through all this work only to have somewhat cold air....

Here is another one for you guys to ponder. The rubber A/C lines for the rear air option are totally different than the hoses for the w/o rear air. I had them both side by side, they are so different in fact that there is no way the w/o lines would have fit on my 89 1500 350cid burb. It looked like to me that it was made for a compressor that mounted on the driver side of the engine compartment. Otherwise there is no way all those lines, bends, and hose would have fit????? Just thought maybe someone would have more of a clue than me on this one???? You would think that the w/o lines would be exactly the same except for the "Y" splits would be omitted. My parts guy insisted that I had the right hoses, but I don't believe so.

Tomorrow I will get the system back in, hopefully hold vacuum, and get it all finished up. Wish me luck.


Here are a few pics of the "rig" job I did:

 

[Crawdaddy]

Referring to pages 55 and 57 in the latest LMC catalog (http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csb/full.aspx?Page=55 and http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csb/full.aspx?Page=57) it looks like the hose that goes from the compressor to the evaporator core for a w/o rear A/C will work in place of the w/rear air. The lower hose appears to be the one that's different. However, a simple bolt will close up the port that's for the rear air; that's how my suburban's currently set up. For the upper hose, the previous owner had an a/c shop cut the line going to the rear air and shove a huge bolt into the hose. Suprisingly, both plugs seem to work just fine, but, my compressor leaks around the seam for the 2 halves! Air still blows cold though. :lol:

 

[stephan]

Hey Joe, converting to R134 is not so bad. They do recommend using a 30% bigger condenser because the R134 isn't quite as efficient as R-12 but I'm using the same factory stock condenser & the vent temp is within 4 or 5 degrees F compared to what it was with R-12. They also recommend a new reciever drier & new compressor oil, but I didn't change them either & it's still going strong after 4 summers.

 

[80 grit]

CD, Just couldn't understand what those two drastic 90degree angles are in the w/o rear ac hose??? Me and my buddy couldn't see any way to make those angles work to connect to the drier. I just got back from Advance with the new hose for the with rear air. We will give it a shot in the morning. I'll post my results. I sanded and painted the rear air shroud flat black as well. I think I will be going with a black headliner when I put one in.

Hey Stephan thanks for the info. Talk to you guys later.

 

[80 grit]

Decided to hold off today as I think it will be a good idea to replace the stock condenser. Hopefully the new one I ordered from advance will have some larger ca[pillaries and better cooling. The guy who I got the truck from said that the front evaporator was replaced and it appears to be so. That would leave only the rear evaporator as the last thing to replace..but it appears to be in good condition and Lord knows I have too much in this A/C already.