Buckarette,

At those prices, you should come and see my AC guy in the SF Bay Area. He only works evenings because he has a day job with one of the local cities. But the shop has been there for some 20+ years. There is another shop which is about 20% more further down the SF Peninsula in San Carlos. Both shops include the "conversion" to 134a which is just a few minor pieces. 

That should leave you enough money to take yours truly to lunch. Oh yeah, leave your motorcycle guy at home. He can eat TV dinners. ;-)

BenT

sent from my electronic leash

On May 23, 2011, at 1:20 PM, Donna Skarloken <dskarloken@gmail.com> wrote:

> David, I'd have to look up the precise amount but at the VW dealer in Modesto, CA, about two years ago I replaced my system and converted to R134.  It was just under $1,000, something like $940 is my vague recollection.  I cannot speak to  whether the system is too complicated for non-VW folk to work on; I just needed it done as it gets around 100 degrees most of the summer where I live and neither myself nor most of my family can deal with that.  I literally feel sick when it gets that warm; I ought to live in Alaska!  That particular dealer had two people on staff who had been with the dealeriship 30+ years and still owned Vanagons, so I trust them to work on mine although it can be pricey.  Unfortunately one individual passed away last year of cancer, very sad, but their service manager still has his Vanagon (aircooled) and can direct the mechanics and answer questions as need be. 
>  
> Donna, 87 Syncro
> 
>