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Topic: A/C evaporator question.... (Read 2527 times) previous topic - next topic

A/C evaporator question....

Is there a way to clean out and re-use an evaporator instead of swapping it?I really don't want to pull the dash and all that is involved in that unless there are just no more options. I just got the new condenser yesterday,and the belt is in route,so,I have everything I need except the new seals to install my a/c equipment.I'll let the service guy do the seals and 134 conversion.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #1 –
In terms of the tubes, people flush using solvent specially made to play nice with the refrigerants and oils if any gets left in the system. While it would be ideal to pump fluid in, I know most people doing it themselves would just pour some solvent in one side and use an air compressor to shove the solvent out the other end. After a few blasts of solvent through the tubes, everything would likely be good enough to use. I still prefer the pump method though as it's more thorough. Then of course there's the fins and any  that gets in between them over the years...

The a/c service guy should have the right pump to flush the evaporator themselves. I don't think the evaporator typically goes bad, unlike the heater core.

I'd strongly recommend a variable orifice tube if you don't have one - it's the one regret in my system. I reused the (flushed) evaporator and the (flushed) discharge line but everything else has been replaced and the new liquid lines always come with the fixed orifice, not the variable that will give much better cooling at idle.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Seek;329967
I'd strongly recommend a variable orifice tube if you don't have one - it's the one regret in my system. I reused the (flushed) evaporator and the (flushed) discharge line but everything else has been replaced and the new liquid lines always come with the fixed orifice, not the variable that will give much better cooling at idle.

I don't have any personal experience, but the techs on A/C forums do not recommend the VoV. High failure rate and not substantial improvement.

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #3 –
I'm swapping everything myself,then having a pro do the 134 conversion,add the seals,and tend to business.I'll try cleaning it out with some of the solvent listed above.My friend just did his a/c in his car and has it at his house.Thanks guys.I think I'm good to go now.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #4 –
I have read that using a condenser from a 94-95 stang will help the system cool better. I have yet to try this though..

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #5 –
That would be a great idea to try.......if I wanted to pull the housing from under the dash......which I do NOT want to do.LOL.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #7 –
Quote from: 88turbo;330014
vinnie, the condenser is in front of the radiator ;)


Yes, he's a little confused ;)

I'm liking my '97 Cobra condenser - it barely gets warm with the stock mechanical fan and either idle or at higher rpm's.

I still wish I had a variable orifice though. From what I understand, as long as there is no detactable contamination in the system (water/dirt), the variable ones wo0rk quite well. The variable ones today are much better than those of the past and if they fail, they fail open (about the same size as the fixed orifice - or rather, close enough). Optimally, they would allow for a 10 degree Fahrenheit improvement but realistically, I would expect to see about 4-5 degrees lower out of the vents at idle - maybe 6-8 degrees when the cabin is baking.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #8 –
Yeah,I know the condenser is in front of the radiator. I just bought a brand new one two days ago. It was a long day and I was thinking about the evaporator.Busy week......and then some.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #9 –
Too bad you can't find R-12. I have R-12 in mine with the stock A/C components and it freezes my arse off :D The stock system works really well.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #10 –
The guy doing the vacuum and charging can probably get it.I'll ask him what's best and go from there.Our new Honda has the new stuff (obviously),and gets frigid.I'm planning on doing some serious insulating as well with the Sport,which will help retain the cold in the summer and warm in the winter.I want the Sport HIGHLY functional,quick,and super comfy inside.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #11 –
Quote from: thunderjet302;330166
Too bad you can't find R-12. I have R-12 in mine with the stock A/C components and it freezes my arse off :D The stock system works really well.


Yes it does but I've gotten my r134 system to blow so cold at cruise (largely due to the compressor not pumping enough at idle) that I can still feel my hand freezing after being out of the car for over 10 minutes on a 90 some degree day (I enjoyed putting my cold hand on peoples' necks - they don't like that). The stock system works great but r134 can do just as good.

If I remember right, as of last year or something, it became easier to obtain r12. Apparently r134 is just as bad for the environment and I'm not sure you have to be a licensed a/c person to purchase it anymore? I do like my $5 cans of r134 though.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #12 –
Check into FREEZE12 works like R12 better than R134a and you don't need a license to buy it. I get mine at my local NAPA. I paid the same for my freeze12 as I would have paid for the r134a.

Stuckman
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #13 –
Freeze 12 works well , however all it is is 80%  R134a and 20% R142b
 the 134 does the cooling the 142 carries the oil through the system  So it cools exactly the same as R134 ....no better no worse :D
Fox-less at the moment

A/C evaporator question....

Reply #14 –
I put Duracool into my T-Bird about 7 years ago and it's been freezing cold ever since. The compressor has been noisy as hell for those 7 years, and I'd been expecting it to fail, but it keeps right on cooling.

I'd always thought Freeze 12 and Duracool (and just about all those universal replacement refrigerants) were nothing more than a methane/butane/propane blend. I do know they're quite flammable, but then again, so is R134A...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣