AC repairs: the final frontier
Last week it was time to fix the AC. It was the remaining completely inoperable system on the car and being a fat guy I am no fan of sweating. John (86VickyLX) was kind enough to donate the AC compressor from his car, so on we go. First up, some pics of why I needed to replace the compressor
this is the compressor that was on the car when I got it. What you're looking at is the hub on the front of the compressor where the bearing is retained. Normally there is a retaining ring groove here, note the lack of a groove on this compressor.
Best I can figure is that when the original clutch came apart, the rubber grabbed the retaining ring and spun it until it ground the groove away. When I got it, the clutch was partially engaged because the bearing had nothing to hold it. This is the original clutch plate and hub.
So out with the old, in with the new. I got no pics of the process because there just isn't a lot of room. The compressor is below the power steering pump. To extract it, the pulley comes off the PS pump, a J-shaped bracket that the front of the compressor bolts to and which mounts under the PS pulley comes out, the lines are undone, the rear bolts are removed, then a Tetris-like puzzle occurs to fish the compressor out between the trans cooler lines, the front sway bar, the radiator, and all of the other crap that is down in that area. I probably should have dropped the sway bar, it would have made it easier. Also, there are some odd tubes attached to the compressor and some rear "feet" that hang up on things. Observe, on the "new" compressor ready for install.
I also found the wiring harness and connector were completely shot, so that also got fixed. I had another plug with suitable length wires on hand, and a connector from Napa was 7 bucks. Some crimp connectors, heat shrink, and wire loom put it all back to right.
Initial plan was to simply vacuum it and charge it. I couldn't find a drier so I just pumped it for an hour and gave it a go. This worked for about 10 minutes. At some point while I was messing with the electric fan and not watching the gauges, it must have blown the relief valve because I lost most of the refrigerant. Further investigation showed the orifice tube is plugged solid.
I also found a source for the drier. Old stock, but I did find one. Motorcraft YF-1192.
So with a fresh drier, fresh orifice tube, and after a lot of solvent flushing of the condenser, I now get 42 degrees at the vents. I did consider replacing the condenser but its basically specific to the Continental. Fitting one of the commonly available Fox chassis ones would have needed some probably minor fabrication work to adapt the mounts. In the meantime its working, so F it.
Last week it was time to fix the AC. It was the remaining completely inoperable system on the car and being a fat guy I am no fan of sweating. John (86VickyLX) was kind enough to donate the AC compressor from his car, so on we go. First up, some pics of why I needed to replace the compressor
this is the compressor that was on the car when I got it. What you're looking at is the hub on the front of the compressor where the bearing is retained. Normally there is a retaining ring groove here, note the lack of a groove on this compressor.
Best I can figure is that when the original clutch came apart, the rubber grabbed the retaining ring and spun it until it ground the groove away. When I got it, the clutch was partially engaged because the bearing had nothing to hold it. This is the original clutch plate and hub.
So out with the old, in with the new. I got no pics of the process because there just isn't a lot of room. The compressor is below the power steering pump. To extract it, the pulley comes off the PS pump, a J-shaped bracket that the front of the compressor bolts to and which mounts under the PS pulley comes out, the lines are undone, the rear bolts are removed, then a Tetris-like puzzle occurs to fish the compressor out between the trans cooler lines, the front sway bar, the radiator, and all of the other crap that is down in that area. I probably should have dropped the sway bar, it would have made it easier. Also, there are some odd tubes attached to the compressor and some rear "feet" that hang up on things. Observe, on the "new" compressor ready for install.
I also found the wiring harness and connector were completely shot, so that also got fixed. I had another plug with suitable length wires on hand, and a connector from Napa was 7 bucks. Some crimp connectors, heat shrink, and wire loom put it all back to right.
Initial plan was to simply vacuum it and charge it. I couldn't find a drier so I just pumped it for an hour and gave it a go. This worked for about 10 minutes. At some point while I was messing with the electric fan and not watching the gauges, it must have blown the relief valve because I lost most of the refrigerant. Further investigation showed the orifice tube is plugged solid.
I also found a source for the drier. Old stock, but I did find one. Motorcraft YF-1192.
So with a fresh drier, fresh orifice tube, and after a lot of solvent flushing of the condenser, I now get 42 degrees at the vents. I did consider replacing the condenser but its basically specific to the Continental. Fitting one of the commonly available Fox chassis ones would have needed some probably minor fabrication work to adapt the mounts. In the meantime its working, so F it.
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