When I bought my 89 GW, some PO had removed the compressor and brackets as well as the condenser coil. I am in the process of trying to get the A/C back running. Looking for any guidance you can provide concerning the following
> Hoses - all are still in place. No obvious damage. I plan to reuse them.
> Inside stuff - all in place. Vac system moves the doors as far as I an tell without opening the under dash unit up.
> Sanden compressor mounting bracket - missing from the rebuilt engine in my GW. Took me awhile to track down the right Sanden bracket but I now have one in hand along with the long bolts to attach it to the motor. Getting ready to install it and determine if it will interface correctly with the alternator
> alternator - Mine is new installed along with the rebuilt motor. However, it only had a single pulley. I now have a double pulley to install.
> Belts - will need new ones
> Compressor - Need to buy a new one - Sanden style but I have questions below
> Condenser coil - mine was missing but I now have a used on to install
> Dryer - Need to buy new one
> Refrigerant - undecided.
> Expansion valve - do not know if I really need one but will come with kit I expect to get
> Looking at ROCKAUTO for new parts. They offer kits with a compressor, dryer, expansion valve
Now for my questions before I spend money on new parts:
1) There were two models of Sanden compressors used in this time frame. The SD508 and the SD709. I understand that the SD709 was an improved model and replaced the SD508. ROCKAUTO offer both styles. Appears from pictures that the SD508 come with hose fitting for R12 and the SD709 has fittings for R134a. I am assuming my GW came from factory with hoses designed for the SD508. Can anyone confirm that?
2) Our GW came stock with R12 refrigerant but I had initially expected to use R134a in my new installation. Then I saw web info about using other refrigerants such as R290 (propane) and R152a (AirDuster). Apparently R290 works very well and is widely used in auto A/C, but I am leery of it. The R152a if cheap and readily available and is apparently very similar to R12 in performance. Although R134a is common today, it is in process of being phased out (to R1234yf) so that does not sound like a good long term solution to me. I do not plan to charge my system myself so I plan to discuss this with the garage I plan to use. He currently thinks I plan to go R134a. At this point, I am now leaning toward R152a because it is cheap and performs much better than R134a. Has anyone here actually used R152a and are happy or unhappy with it?
3) My condenser is used with an unknown history. I plan to try and blow it out and see if it has any debris from past compressor failure. If it looks clean, I plan to reuse it unless someone here offers a reason that is a bad idea.
4) Would like a good picture of how the alternator is mounted close to the Sanden A/C bracket. All I can find on web is picture using the York. I am not sure that I have all the right pieces to put the puzzle together.