Done it last summer.  A local shop did it for me, only cost $154.  Need
to discharge old stuff, (you did that already) change fittings, use
adapters fill it with ester type oil and 134a.  134a is a LOT cheaper
than r12 and can be purchased OTC.  Good luck,
-Tim
90 GL

YauMan Chan wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> It's A/C time - The high pressure hose on my 87 Vanagon GL
> just blew.. spectacular sound and white vapor.. scare my
> kids in the back seat .. the California earthquake "duck &
> cover" drills came in handy.
>
> But anyway, since this old thing had R12 and being a
> Berserkelan, I am very much guilt ridden for having released
> all my R12 into the atmosphere and accelerated the
> depletion of O3 and the on set of global warming by a few
> month, I think that when I repair the system I should replace
> it with R134a.
>
> I search the archived here on all info concerning changing
> from R12 to R134a and found a lot of very useful resources.  I
> asked our VW dealer here and they have no info.. have not
> heard that it can be done!  Anyway, I am still looking.  I found
> a very informative web site for those interested:
> http://www.delanet.com/~pparish/
> It has all the technical info on the differences in behavior of
> the refrigerants and the oil in the old and new system.. very
> very informative. There is a whole chapter on Automotive A/C
> service RetroFit.
>
> Anyway, I am studying up on this subject and will attempted
> to do this.  Any suggestions will be welcome.  I will keep you
> all posted on my progress..
>
> Yau-Man Chan
> A very hot 87 Vanagon GL