I've thought about doing all three (AC, tint, Alpine), so jump out of your
socks - just waiting for the money to arrive. And by the way, MB Quart makes
some four inch sized speakers that are alot better than the Alpine Speakers
- I'm assuming their depth wouldn't be a problem... You can't beat an Alpine
head unit (except maybe with another Alpine) but when its comes to
speakers... thats a different story -- oh, and I've been planning on going
with 43% sputtered metal tint in charcoal..... (I'd go darked but the laws
of all the different states is a tangled web when it comes to tint and I
don't want to get a ticket for having tint darker than a state I'm just
driving through allows, even at 43% I'm pushing it) and my mechanic
recommended an AC shop, and the AC shop recommends using R12....

>From: Mick Kalber <hotlava@interpac.net>
>Reply-To: Mick Kalber <hotlava@interpac.net>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: AC and window tint comments/deja vu
>Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 21:46:47 -1000
>
>Jeff... this is scary... just bout my 89 syncro westy two months ago.  Have
>done three things to it...
>I had my AC compressor, expansion valve and receiver/dryer replaced. I got
>the parts from the Bus Depot (great quality parts!)and had a local ac shop,
>Lex Brodie's, install them, flush out the system and fill with R-12, all
>total about $1000, ouch is right! I went with R-12 after reading lots of
>info on R-12, 134a, Freeze 12 and others. Unfortunately, the system is
>still
>not working.  We're not sure what the problem is.  Ron Salmon has given us
>instructions to check if we have received a bad compressor, but it's not
>cooling yet.  Actually, had it worked when installed it would have cost
>about $750 or so... I'm projecting $1000 by the time the ac guy gets done
>fooling around with it.
>
>OK, that's weird enough, but the second thing I have done is I also had the
>windows tinted for about $200 with metalized film and I'm quite pleased
>with
>the results. I went with 30% film, not too dark. It's not as hot when
>parked
>or driving in the sun.
>
>Pretty strange, huh?
>
>Now the third thing I had done was I installed an Alpine CD player and four
>Alpine speakers... now if you write back and tell me you just installed an
>Alpine stereo system I'm really gonna get freaked out!
>
>Glad to hear that your ac is working properly though... I'm crossing my
>fingers at this point.
>
>Mick Kalber
>Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
>62 Halaulani Place    Hilo, Hawaii  96720
>ph. 808-935-5557    fax 808-935-0066
>hotlava@interpac.net
>www.volcanoscapes.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
>Of Jeff Hammerstrom
>Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2000 8:17 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: AC and window tint comments
>
>
>I recently had my AC compressor, expansion valve and receiver/dryer
>replaced. I got the parts from the Bus Depot (great quality parts!)and had
>a
>local Seattle shop, European Motors, install them, flush out the system and
>fill with R-12, all total about $1000, ouch! I went with R-12 after reading
>lots of info on R-12, 134a, Freeze 12 and others. Fortunately now the
>system
>works great! I've noticed that it really does matter where you aim the
>vents. It's not as good as my BMW but the AC in it is amazing. I've read
>lots of comments on the AC on the Vanagon not being that great but with
>everything working properly it works fine although I do notice the power
>loss when it kicks on now but I can live with that.
>I also had the windows tinted for about $300 with metalized film and I'm
>quite pleased with the results. I went with 30% film, not too dark. It's
>not
>as hot when parked or driving in the sun.
>
>Jeff Hammerstrom
>'90 Westie
>'86 BMW 535i
>'71 Fiat 124 Spider
>'86 Subaru 4x4

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com