Persistence pays off yet again


Might be a good idea to clean all the tubes and fittings. There is an O ring in the fittings of the radiator, make sure they are intact.

 

Quick question Captain - Was going to put all the new A/C stuff on tomorrow and pull a vacuum to see if any leaks. Realized though I will not be getting the radiator back in until after I get the fan shroud which will be Thursday afternoon. UPS usually gets here late afternoon so radiator would not be in till Friday. Will it hurt be to do the A/C install tomorrow and vacuum check or should I wait until I get the radiator in? I was thinking of doing before the radiator install because of the condenser connections.

 

Pull a vacuum before the radiator is installed so you can get at the condenser connections if need be Close the high side manifold valve. Open the low side manifold valve. Allow the evacuator to run, (low side port only) for a minimum of 60 minutes after 29.4" of vacuum is achieved. Then close the low side valve and watch vacuum after an hour or so. Should remain unchanged. If so, open the low side valve add the refrigerant.

 

Question on the o-rings in those fittings - Just was out checking them and if I look into the fitting the cooler lines snap into, there are no o-rings. It looks more like a flare fitting. The gremlins are against me this morning - Went to loosen nut on accumalator and I do not have a big enough wrench...... Wife wanted me to take her to work so I could have the car but I said no, have all I need..... Lessen learned... Waiting for neighbor to get home to see if he has one if not have to wait till wife gets home for lunch at 130pm..

 

Just thought of something - should I reuse the clips for the cooler lines that go into the radiator? Have read you can reuse them and some say replace them. When I do get access to a car I am running for wrench and going to stop and get the rubber feet for bottom of radiator. One of mine is practically shredded.

I was able to loosen the connections at the condenser. Kinda of surprised as they just took a nudge to break loose.

 

Well the a/c system is all together. Just started pulling the vacuum. Now to wait.....
The only thing that bothered me way the way the double hose connection hooked up to the compressor. Looks like the suction side is not down as tight as the high side. Looked at the old hose and the connection matched up. We'll see the the vacuum test shows. Another delay on the radiator as the screws and clips were froze together on the bottom of top shroud and could not get them loose, ended up breaking it. Found out NAPA carries them so went to the store and they had to get it out of Ohio and will be here on Friday. I'll get all back together eventually...............

 

When I first did the vacuum test I could only run it for about 20 mins as had to go pick up wife. Gauge read -16. Turned vacuum pump off. Came home about 45 mins later and gauge still read -16. Turned pump back on and let run for over an hour, gauge still read -16. Shut pump down and checked gauge when I got up this am and still read -16. Thought maybe the gauge is stuck so just went out and opened the low pressure manifold valve and the gauge went right back up to 0. Now these are Harbor Freight gauges and vacuum pump. Being retired, all I can afford. Vacuum pump is 2.5 CFM, single stage, 1/6HP. Not sure what to do now. Could it be the pump?

 

Or maybe the gauges?

 

put some refrigerant in it, and see how it works. check again for leaks. Freon is cheep.

 

Well I am pleased to report that after going over all the hoses and making sure that they were snug, pump is pulling a -28!!! Now waiting to see if it stays at -28 after shutting down pump and waiting an hour.

Not sure if it was the hoses or the pump. I did take it and changed the oil and made sure yellow hose was tight on it.