It is true about the R-134A seeping through the "rubber" hoses used originally on Vanagons in the days of R-12. But the "standard hose" nowadays is barrier hose that isn't permeable to R-134A so no need to go crazy on steel lines and such. Just use fittings that are designed for barrier hose (barb configuration is different) and swaged connections. When I rebuilt/redesigned my A/C I got all of the parts I needed, including the larger parallel flow condenser from https://nostalgicac.com/. Got great service and good prices.  I had already replaced all of my lines with barrier hose (PITA!). Pulled all the lines out and took them to Arizona Mobile Air (https://www.ackits.com/) and had them fabricate new ones, with mods to connect to the new condenser. Been a few years ago, but it was ~$250 IIRC for the hoses. They also pressure tested the used '87+ evap I used for my modifications, and they can fix leaks as well so it's an option to ship it all to them if you can't find a similar shop locally. Been 3 1/2 years since my engine swap and A/C upgrade. No leaks yet, and the hoses are 3 years older than that. Not really any good options for a real, and reliable repair/upgrade without spending a boatload of cash, unless you do the lion's share of the labor yourself. I've lived in Phoenix AZ all my life, but as I get further into my 60's I too am having a harder time taking the heat without good A/C, especially when temps start getting in the upper teens. And I lived here for 4 decades without any A/C - house or cars - just a swamp cooler on the house and 2-60 a/c in the cars (2 windows down, 60mph). 

Keith Hughes
'86 Westy GenV Turbo (Marvin)

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2019 02:52:01 +0000
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Fixing Vanagon Air Conditioning....trying at least

Good one Dave, about the size of R-12 molecules versus that of R-134A mole=
cules.=C2=A0 Hmmmm...=C2=A0 I have considered this, even to the extent of c=
onsidering stainless steel "bellows tubes" as a replacement for the standar=
d rubber hoses.=C2=A0 Good idea.=C2=A0 To solve this problem once and for a=
ll.=C2=A0 But...with a potential leak in evaporator (as already determined =
by sniffing by my=C2=A0 A/C shop) I don't think that's a good option.=C2=A0=
Hoses leak...but so do components like evaporators, and I think they leak =
far faster than hoses.=C2=A0 O-rings are pretty easy.=C2=A0 But, attacking =
an evaporator leak, not to mention likely damage to to all the brittle plas=
tic housing (that's why my A/C expert did NOT want to go there).=C2=A0 Plus=
, super duper expensive to replace an evaporator with no longer available p=
arts.=C2=A0 We are talking mucho bucks, even if lucky enough to find one (e=
vaporator in pristine condition).=C2=A0 Nope.=C2=A0 Empty beverage can to h=
old open front wind windows (as seen on Facebook Vanagon Owners Group) seem=
s like a pretty good option.=C2=A0 Dang...when I was young, I traveled 15,0=
00 miles in summer of 1974 all across the USA in my aircooled '70 bus....no=
A/C...no nothing.=C2=A0 My luxury item was an old Coleman stove that I bou=
ght for $3 at a swapmeet.=C2=A0 But yeah...I was 20 years old back then.
Rich
San Diego

 On Thursday, August 8, 2019, 7:01:49 PM PDT, David McNeely <davmcneely4=
0@GMAIL.COM> wrote: =20
=20
My 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile with 2.1l original waterboxer at
185k miles has factory air converted to R-134a in 2010 that currently does
not work.=C2=A0 Every year since 2010 I have had competent VW AC mechanics
ferret out problems (leaky valves, bad o-rings, and so on, unending).=C2=A0=
When
it works, it cools magnificently, but I have decided that pumping more
R-134a into the atmosphere is NOT being a good citizen.=C2=A0 Most recently=
, I
have been told by several including some on this list that the R-134a
molecule is smaller than the R-12 molecule, and that the factory hoses
actually seep R134a through their walls.=C2=A0 How true that is, I have no
idea.=C2=A0 I have not replaced the hoses, nor have I even priced R&R for t=
he
hoses.=C2=A0 At my advanced age, and being fairly heat tolerant anyway, I a=
m not
sure additional money on this problem is justified.=C2=A0 But a buyer would
probably want working AC, and I am not one to get it "serviced" in order to
sell it when that time comes.

On Thu, Aug 8, 2019 at 6:28 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

>=C2=A0 Jeff, GoWesty has a very good writeup about the issues with getting
> satisfactory performance on Vanagon Air Conditioning.=C2=A0 As for me, mi=
ne is
> an 85 tintop....and thus has the evaporator hanging from the ceiling just
> behind the front seats.=C2=A0 I also have a Subie 2.2 conversion; when th=
e
> conversion was done, with a Subie A/C compressor, I requested that they t=
ry
> to get the A/C working again.=C2=A0 They did.=C2=A0 But I had leaks.=C2=
=A0 So took it to a
> knowledgeable shop here in San Diego.=C2=A0 They replaced O-rings and
> stuff...but with sniffer determined that I had a small leak in the
> evaporator.=C2=A0 So....by law...they could NOT refill with R-12 freon
> (incredibly expensive anyway).=C2=A0 They converted system to R-134A.=C2=
=A0 So far so
> good.=C2=A0 But stuff leaked out.=C2=A0 So I bought a Stop-Leak can (avai=
lable for
> R-134A but NOT available for R-12).=C2=A0 It worked mostly; I followed
> instructions exactly with regard to putting in the Stop-Leak and then
> immediately following up with R-134A refrigerant.=C2=A0 Now, one year lat=
er, A/C
> was still "sorta" working...but not icy cold.=C2=A0 Still must have a lit=
tle
> leak. I did the routine of adding R-134A.=C2=A0 I carefully monitored low=
side
> pressure to hold it at about 35 PSI.=C2=A0 But I think I overfilled.=C2=
=A0 On recent
> trip through deserts of Arizona at 106 F, my A/C worked fine for about 20
> minutes....but then seemed to give up.=C2=A0 I think the problem is overf=
ill of
> freon (causing icing up of expansion valve, so maybe also need evacuation
> to get rid of even a tiny bit of water in system).=C2=A0 Also...per the G=
oWesty
> writeup, R-134A is only about 80% efficient compared to original R-12.
> Also, GoWesty recommends a "parallel" condenser up front as apposed to th=
e
> original "serpentine" condenser...I wish I had done that.=C2=A0 Anyway, l=
ike
> GoWesty says.....it's a very tough and expensive problem to solve.=C2=A0 =
So much
> air volume in van...so much sun exposure...and old technology.=C2=A0 Heck=
....any
> modern car can do the job just fine!=C2=A0 Good luck...I'm still struggli=
ng too
> with the issue.
>
> Rich
> San Diego
>
>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 On Monday, August 5, 2019, 3:06:57 PM PDT, Jeff Palmer <
> w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM> wrote:
>
>=C2=A0 With my advancing age and borderline health :) I am finding it hard=
to
> handle heat these days. My 85 does not have AC.=C2=A0 Thinking about sell=
ing and
> finding one with AC - if it actually works? And is AC the same in every
> year?
>
> So does Westfalia AC actually cool or is it the 1985 version of cooling?
>
> Thanks
> Jeff
>
=20

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End of vanagon Digest - 7 Aug 2019 to 8 Aug 2019 (#2019-202)
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