In a message dated 04/02/2005 2:12:11 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

For some  Vanagon content, I bought a cheap R12-to-R134 conversion kit
at Wal-Mart  and it worked - nothing has blown up yet.  It's worked
for over two  years now.  It came with two hose adapters and a small
container of  snake oil that was supposed to convert the lubricant in
the R12 setup to  something that would work with R134.  That's all.  I
added  several cans of R134 and it cools.  I continue to add R134,
about one  can per month, because the compressor housing leaks
visibly, but that's not  necessarily the fault of the conversion
method.

Grungy, I've just done the same a few weeks  ago and had similar experiences.
No leaks, yet !  Did you try adding the  A/C system sealer that's also sold
at Wal-Mart ?  Isn't there a leak sealer  in the cans that were in that kit ?
I think so, if my memory is working  this morning.  Anyways, I ended up
recharging the system three times before  I got done as on the first charge the top
cap on the receiver/drier blew off due  to corrosion !  Then I decided to
change the Expansion Valve to a 134a  compatible one just because I had it sitting
around the shop and thought it was  lonely.  Should have though of that
before charging the system for the  second time.  Soooooo, to make a long story
short, I ended up charging the  system three times.  It is good now with no
leaks.  How cold  ?, will have to wait 'till some summer heat comes around to tell
that.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com