Complete a/c rebuild question or two

[Joshua Keith]

1985 K10 SBC 350
Original a/c equipped

Alright! Just ordered new vintage air brackets, Sanden 508 compressor, new evaporator, and drier/accumulator. Couple questions since I’m sure there’s some better experience with this. What color orifice tube did you go with? Anyone with proof that a blue tube helped out? I’m reading a lot of “the blue may help out with low idle temps”. Has anyone found a condenser that mimics the original part? I’m reading everywhere that both AC Delco and Spectra have fitment issues. Supposedly AC Delco is 2.5 inches too narrow and spectra you have to cut some spots out of the radiator support. Thanks!

 

[Craig 85]

I have the same compressor. My A/C guy just used a stock GM style orifice tube. It blows at 40 degrees, but I've only had it up and running since last October. Nothing hotter than 90 degrees yet. Runs cold at idle.

I have an aftermarket condenser and it's at least 2" narrower, but it fit with no cutting. I just can't remember what I did to support the driver's side.

It's hard to tell in this photo, but you can see the condenser behind the engine oil cooler. The OEM one filled the hole right up to the left side of the core support.

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[Madhorn]

This what I did with my 77.
As far as the AC part of this project goes, here are some details. When I had the dash apart with the heater box and evaporator removed the heater core and evaporator were replaced when it went back together. This means everything in the AC will be new. Here is rest of the part list. All parts with exception of the belt were ordered from Summit. Belt came from Autozone.
AC bracket ICT 551494x-3
Belt tensioner Continental 49296
Belt 114.3" Duralast 1143k6
AC condenser kit VA 021573
AC hose kit VA 547001
AC compressor VA 047007
AC presser switch VA 11086-vus

 

[Joshua Keith]

I have the same compressor. My A/C guy just used a stock GM style orifice tube. It blows at 40 degrees, but I've only had it up and running since last October. Nothing hotter than 90 degrees yet. Runs cold at idle.

I have an aftermarket condenser and it's at least 2" narrower, but it fit with no cutting. I just can't remember what I did to support the driver's side.

It's hard to tell in this photo, but you can see the condenser behind the engine oil cooler. The OEM one filled the hole right up to the left side of the core support.

You must be registered for see images attach

Man, you just keep helping a guy out don’t ya?! Do you remember what condenser that was? Looks like that may be my only option. Was hoping there was an actual replica out there. I have my original one, maybe I’ll have it flushed out.

 

[yevgenievich]

I used sd7, parallel flow condenser, orange orifice tube.
https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/r4-to-sanden-whith-stock-ac-lines-for-serpantine.22437/

Have more info in my build thread, but it is a pain to find. Kept the burb cool for 3hrs sitting idle in the middle of texas summer without issues.

 

[Craig 85]

Man, you just keep helping a guy out don’t ya?! Do you remember what condenser that was? Looks like that may be my only option. Was hoping there was an actual replica out there. I have my original one, maybe I’ll have it flushed out.

I had my original too, but the fins were too badly damaged to reuse. The replacement is a parallel flow style and my understanding is more efficient than the OEM tube style. I could not find my receipt for the part, but I'm guessing I bought it at Napa. Here's a link to what I purchased. The K10 shows the same part number.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/CDS...Conditioning+Condenser&keywordInput=condenser

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I used the blue o-tube in a variable compressor/originally R12 setup with factory compressor. I’m assuming this one is non-continuous, but that shouldn’t matter much overall. I can say it does help noticeably unless it was sitting in a hundred plus degree parking lot and you don’t move. It’ll cool some, but it’s not the 29-31* output going down the highway. The blue’s not a miracle part, but I notice if you were already moving and then sit still, it’ll hold the temp and keep the heat removed indefinitely, which some older systems can’t even do that. I’ll trade the reduced efficiency of the older design condenser for its friendliness to being flushed due to the nice, plumpy tubes. I think it’s important to clean whatever you can when the system’s open for service.

 

[gmbellew]

I have a factory system in my 90 burb that has been converted to r134a. Performance was good as long as you steadily moved at 40mph or more. I added an auxiliary e-fan and that has helped noticeably at low speed and idle.

 

[Joshua Keith]

I used the blue o-tube in a variable compressor/originally R12 setup with factory compressor. I’m assuming this one is non-continuous, but that shouldn’t matter much overall. I can say it does help noticeably unless it was sitting in a hundred plus degree parking lot and you don’t move. It’ll cool some, but it’s not the 29-31* output going down the highway. The blue’s not a miracle part, but I notice if you were already moving and then sit still, it’ll hold the temp and keep the heat removed indefinitely, which some older systems can’t even do that. I’ll trade the reduced efficiency of the older design condenser for its friendliness to being flushed due to the nice, plumpy tubes. I think it’s important to clean whatever you can when the system’s open for service.

So you think the white tube would be better for the highway output? But the blue tube will keep the a/c cooper when you pull of the highway for a bit?

 

[Joshua Keith]

I have a factory system in my 90 burb that has been converted to r134a. Performance was good as long as you steadily moved at 40mph or more. I added an auxiliary e-fan and that has helped noticeably at low speed and idle.

Nice! Did you get rid of the clutch fan, or did you get a smaller auxiliary fan and put it on the outside of the condenser?

 

[gmbellew]

Nice! Did you get rid of the clutch fan, or did you get a smaller auxiliary fan and put it on the outside of the condenser?

i kept the clutch fan and hung a 10" spal fan off the transmission cooler because it wouldn't fit on the condenser directly with the transmission cooler in place.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

So you think the white tube would be better for the highway output? But the blue tube will keep the a/c cooper when you pull of the highway for a bit?

I don’t know how the white tube should outperform the blue tube on the highway, my understanding is you take one, lose one in terms of city and highway performance, but they both do sub-freezing output on the highway. My white tube is in an R4 compressor system, and the blue tube is in a V5 compressor system - similar capacity, originally R12 systems.

I was very careful and by the book when I did my stuff, and that’s the most critical part. Doing the job right has more value than anything you can do because both of them will freeze you out, but I’ll do the blue tube from now on for the noticeably consistent performance in stop and go or just sitting there. The white tube has a proclivity for conking out in stop and go, especially as the ambient temp rises.

 

[Joshua Keith]

I don’t know how the white tube should outperform the blue tube on the highway, my understanding is you take one, lose one in terms of city and highway performance, but they both do sub-freezing output on the highway. My white tube is in an R4 compressor system, and the blue tube is in a V5 compressor system - similar capacity, originally R12 systems.

I was very careful and by the book when I did my stuff, and that’s the most critical part. Doing the job right has more value than anything you can do because both of them will freeze you out, but I’ll do the blue tube from now on for the noticeably consistent performance in stop and go or just sitting there. The white tube has a proclivity for conking out in stop and go, especially as the ambient temp rises.

Sounds like blue is the winner here. Thanks for all of the info!

 

[olnick]

If you are doing a new (clean system) check out "DURACOOL" it is a propane family refrigerant I installed it two summers ago and it still blows COLD. this is in a 1978 c15 that has all original components sans new condenser coil that caught a stone from the road. the A6 compressor is a touch loud however with the DURACOOL the load on the compressor is about 2/3 what is was with r-12 installed.

Olnick

http://www.duracool.com/-faq.html Everything you ever wanted to know about duracool!!

 

[SquareRoot]

I put Vintage Air Surefit in my 85.

Just buy the condenser that that kit uses. It bolts right in , easy peasy.

You're going end up going down the same rabbit hole I did. I did the compressor kit first, then the condenser kit, the wondered why the the hell I kept the ****** OEM evaporator and it's POS miles of sticky cables, frayed wires and leaky vacuum hoses? So I bought the evaporator kit and control unit.

Now it's actually modern and works like a new vehicle.

Just buy the entire kit in the beginning instead of wasting time and money piecing it together.

Your firewall will thank you when you get that huge, ugly, POS fiberglass enclosure off it. The surefit all goes inside the cab.

However, if you expect any ac/to perform well in these 35 year old, leaky, metal heatsinks, you have to address the insulation and sun coming thru the glass. A good tint will do wonders on a sunny day.

Trust me, I live in Yuma Arizona, the sunniest place in the US and regular summer temps in the 120's.