Gday Yurik,
Thanks a lot for this, so far you are the only one who has experienced
the sort of upgrade I had in mind and hopefully within a reasonable
budget.
Balance what you have done with the view of the accredited a/c installer
I spoke to who essentially said an 18 year old system in this
non-standard vehicle would be so affected by deterioration, corrosion,
poor sealing etc in so many components including the long hoses,
realistically no one in the industry with typical high labour costs and
overheads would touch it. Only a complete new system would attract a
warranty. In his view, the removal and replacement with a complete new
system would be prohibitively expensive. He did say though to try and
find someone with lower overheads such as the mobile a/c accredited
installers, even then it would probably have to be treated as a "labour
of love".
Ok so please give me your thoughts on the following ok ....
I believe I can get a new modern compressor with double pulley that
bolts straight on to the existing bracket. The compressor pulley will
line up correctly with the drive output pulley.
I expect the o ring connectors on the new compressor head will be set
up/located differently to the existing flair connectors on the old
compressor head. So do you think that cutting off the hose flair
fittings and replacing them with the newer o ring fittings, the hose
will still be long enough to attach to the new compressor head? Worst
comes to the worst, I believe there are adaptors available.
The receiver-drier as a matter of course should be replaced.
As you suggest, replace the X.T. valve.
So from what you remember, you re-used the old front condenser (in front
of the radiator), the in-dash evaporator, the thermostat and pressure
switch as well as the 2 very long rubber refrigerant hoses. The whole
system was evacuated of contaminants then regassed with R134A
refrigerant, tested for leaks and it passed ok?
Are you aware of any other issues and does the a/c system still hold
it's gas ok ... that is, it's still quite cold even now when you use it,
some 5 years later?
Do you run it periodically to keep the seals moist and do you have it
serviced annually or not?
Thanks Yurik, I appreciate your help and guidance.
Cheers.
Ken
--- In
Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "Yurik Orlowsky"
<yuriko@...> wrote:
>
> Ken
>
> My syncro has the Prestige Auto Air system and I also found it to be
> ineffective. At one point when a re-gas was needed
>
> I had the XT valve replaced and this improved the cooling
significantly.
> Later when I did the Subaru engine conversion the
>
> new engine(2003) came with a compressor which was retro fitted to the
> existing system and this combination produced
>
> very crisp cold air - a huge improvement. I have come to the
conclusion
> that the old compressors are inefficient and the modern
>
> new ones are the answer to an aging ac system that we have. One of my
> friends replaced his compressor in a 2L air cooled
>
> VW bus with a smaller modern one and it transformed his ac.
>
> With the T3, the engine compressor bracket would have to be modified
and new
> hose connectors installed to suit the compressor
>
> used. All other components remain.
>
>
>
> Yurik
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ken
> Sent: Thursday, 20 November 2008 3:36 PM
> To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] re: Original circa 1990 aftermarket air
> conditioning system ... upgradeable?
>
>
>
> Gday ALL,
>
> Many syncros, in particular Trakka campers, had an aftermarket a/c
> system made by Prestige Auto Air in Sydney or else some other a/c
> business. My observations conclude that most if not all of these old
> systems no longer work satisfactorily, some people even resort to a
> re-gas just prior to their annual trip, hoping it lasts the distance.
>
> Has anyone had real success simply upgrading key components of the
> original a/c system such, that it now works well and no longer leaks
> refrigerant?
>
> By that I mean for example, replacing the compressor, receiver/drier,
> perhaps the thermostat, pressure switch, T.X. valve, gas seals etc.
> Also, possibly replaced the front condenser (in front of radiator)
> and/or the evaporator (mounted in/on dash in front of passenger seat.
>
> If anyone can say it has been done successfully, did it also include
> replacing the 2 large rubber refrigerant hoses that link the
> compressor on the motor and the receiver drier behind the front
> passenger side headlight? Perhaps they were replaced with metal lines.
>
> I'm interested at this early stage to at least try and find out if it
> is feasible in terms of being practical and economical. I've spoken
> to an accredited installer today and he didn't paint a rosy picture.
>
> Failing all else, I may remove the a/c components to lighten the load.
>
> Any helpful feedback would be much appreciated. TIA.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Ken
>