AC questions????

Truck is a 81 F100 with a 300 six and factory AC.

When I was replacing the condenser I pulled the hose off the old one that would go to the evap.
When I got the hose off there was a orifice type thing in the condenser tube?
It is not the orifice tube as that looks to be in the tube of the evap.

So could that be a filter? It was clean. If so should I leave it in the new condenser? I will be using anew orifice tube, the old one looks clean also but going from R12 to 143a I should change it.

The other question I have is with the compressor.
The truck used the big ugly York compressor and I want to switch to the smaller Sedan compressor.
I know they make bracket kits for this swap but what do you have to do for the hoses to hook up?
I am guessing you cant use the hoses for the York and I am not sure if I can use the hoses from a later model truck as I don't know if they will hook to the condenser & evap.
Any one know how this all works out?

Thanks for any information you can give.
Dave ----

The brass piece in the hose is a quick connect. mine had them also. I suspect on the compressor a later pre-serpentine FS-6 will work they were still V-belt through 1986.

Your best move is to install a complete sealed charged working '94-97 refrigerant system (R134a, parallel-flow, & the later compressor), and figure out a bracket & clutch/pulley that will work on your engine.

When I ditched the York, I put in a compressor from a 1986 truck. The line from the condenser to the compressor still fit and worked, but the line from from the compressor to the evaporator was way different. I just ordered a hose for a 82-86 straight six truck from RockAuto that routes up by the firewall instead of across the front of the engine like the York.

I forgot 1 tinker thing and it may help others!

Back a few months ago when checking the HVAC system at first I could got the doors to work I had no vacuum to the unit (see where I might be going with this?).
After checking for supply and moving hoses around and plugging 1 I had vacuum to the HVAC controls.

What did I take out of the picture you ask? The metal vacuum reserve can, looks like a small juice can.
Yesterday I removed it from the truck to take a closer look and guess what the metal worms did to the metal can? Yep at the bottom on the front & rear ends, it lays on it's side, I found a little pin hole and digging I found it was a lot more than a pin hole. I removed the mounting bracket and also found some pin holes on the bottom side of the can.

Now I could hit the junk yard for another metal or better yet a plastic one but my work hours and when they are open don't line up so on to a fix.
I sanded the area around the now gap at each end. 1 gap was pretty big so as a filler I used a pin used that you weld to body panels for pulling dents.
I then mixed up a small batch of fiber glass rosin and used it to fill the gaps & pin holes.
I will add another coat or 2 and when happy will put the mount back on and install back in truck.

So if your truck has AC and uses a metal vacuum reserve can, HVAC not working to good and you cant find that vacuum leak, look at the vacuum can.
Dave ----

85lebaront2 wrote

The brass piece in the hose is a quick connect. mine had them also. I suspect on the compressor a later pre-serpentine FS-6 will work they were still V-belt through 1986.

It is not a brass piece, I will have to get a picture of the parts next to the orifice tube.
As a guess I would say it is a filter just never seen one in a system before.
Dave ----

Steve83 wrote

Your best move is to install a complete sealed charged working '94-97 refrigerant system (R134a, parallel-flow, & the later compressor), and figure out a bracket & clutch/pulley that will work on your engine.

Well that is not going to happen as I have the HVAC box, after cleaning and dash back in the truck.
I also just installed a new condenser.

Now what would have helped on the install is that hood latch bracket. I had to space mine out to clear the condenser.

I am still working on getting the compressor brackets so at this point I can go either way on the compressor.
I have also looked into making my own hoses for the compressor if I use the sedan.
Just checking the options I have at this point.

Thanks
Dave ----

Ford F834 wrote

When I ditched the York, I put in a compressor from a 1986 truck. The line from the condenser to the compressor still fit and worked, but the line from from the compressor to the evaporator was way different. I just ordered a hose for a 82-86 straight six truck from RockAuto that routes up by the firewall instead of across the front of the engine like the York.

A week or so back I was looking for AC hoses and not a lot showed up but I was looking for my year 81 with a 300.
I will check both the compressor & hose for the later 82-86 trucks.

I have also looked into making my own hoses. Between the hose kit & crimp tool would be about what I think a shop would charge to make them.

Just looking over my options right now but with out compressor brackets it is all for nothing.
Thanks
Dave ----

Dave, you will have a set of the ‘83-86 style brackets headed your way early in the week. The compressor hoses should be readily available, and not terribly expensive. The one other thing you might still need is the pig tail that plugs into the later style compressor. I may have one, I will dig around and see...

FuzzFace2 wrote

Well that is not going to happen as I have the HVAC box, after cleaning and dash back in the truck.

The in-dash box can stay; only the underhood box has to be changed to use the factory '94-96 evaporator.





And it's pretty easy to change, even when the truck is assembled & driveable.  I've done the swap without losing any coolant or refrigerant.

FuzzFace2 wrote

I also just installed a new condenser.

Sucks, but the factory parallel-flow condenser is vastly superior, and a worthwhile upgrade to any older system.  Especially if you can find a complete JY system locally.

FuzzFace2 wrote

...I will have to get a picture of the parts next to the orifice tube.
As a guess I would say it is a filter just never seen one in a system before.

Is it the conglomeration of fittings in this pic where the "liquid line" pointer is?

I second Steve's opinion. The 1994-96/7 condensor will need a little effort to get it in and the 1994-96/6 A/C case is a bolt on and if you use the wiring hole in it you get rid of the underside A/C wiring. I will throw another option out for you, aftermarket compressor, Sanden makes a nice one along with a number of others. This will give you a higher volume R134a compressor. I have the Ford FS-10 on Darth but that was due to acquiring most of the HVAC system from a 1996 F150 the owner had rolled in broad daylight on a dry road (home grown sway bar system for his lift kit). I found a compressor hose set at Pick-n-Pull in Virginia Beach. The condensor is a new 1994-96/7 purchased from LKQ and fitted to the 1990 core support.

I had already done an R134a conversion on Darth and our 1990 Lincoln Town Car so other than my konvertible everything we had was R134a.

Jonathan, thank you let me know what you want for them and your trouble.

How did you look up the hoses as I am sure I could not find them for my 81 or did you look up 83-86 parts?
If so I wonder if the truck end of the hoses will work with the 81 system?
Someone posted to swap over to the later system (full system) to get everything to match, not going to happen LOL
Dave ----

Yes, I generically selected 1986 F150 with a 4.9L six. I don’t think they have the hoses for the older York compressor system.

Steve83 wrote

FuzzFace2 wrote

Well that is not going to happen as I have the HVAC box, after cleaning and dash back in the truck.

The in-dash box can stay; only the underhood box has to be changed to use the factory '94-96 evaporator.





And it's pretty easy to change, even when the truck is assembled & driveable.  I've done the swap without losing any coolant or refrigerant.

FuzzFace2 wrote

I also just installed a new condenser.

Sucks, but the factory parallel-flow condenser is vastly superior, and a worthwhile upgrade to any older system.  Especially if you can find a complete JY system locally.

FuzzFace2 wrote

...I will have to get a picture of the parts next to the orifice tube.
As a guess I would say it is a filter just never seen one in a system before.

Is it the conglomeration of fittings in this pic where the "liquid line" pointer is?

Yes it is in the tube of the condenser on the liquid line and the orifice tube is where you have it marked.

The new condenser I have mounted in the truck is larger than the old one as I believe it is for 134a used in the later year 90's trucks and why it is not a direct bolt in.

From what I have seen posted of 134a conversions in our trucks works pretty good using the factory parts so mine should too.
Jonathan pointed out I can use the 83-86 hoses as that is when they also switched to the Sedan compressor but kept all the rest of the system the same.

I want to get all the under hood work done (AC) before I put paint on the truck. Don't want to be leaning over freshly painted fenders to do the work!

I do want to think everyone that has helped so.
Dave ----

Going to jump in with a question.

On my 1992 Bronco, can I put a 1994 and up condenser in it? the A/C is adequate where I live, but hotter areas tax it.

I think my 1986 system is better than my Bronco.

grumpin wrote

Going to jump in with a question.

On my 1992 Bronco, can I put a 1994 and up condenser in it? the A/C is adequate where I live, but hotter areas tax it.

I think my 1986 system is better than my Bronco.

I cant answer that question but if there is a junk yard with a 94 in it measure it and see how it mounts that do the same to yours.

Now I am going to say if it does "bolt in" I cant see it working any better than what you have now.
I say this because to cool that big old cave takes a lot of BTU's.
That is why they put rear HVAC systems in larger SUV's and vans.
Even my 02 Dodge Durango has a rear system and when not working as it should I can tell, both heat & AC.
Dave ----

I re-checked Rock Auto for the hoses and as Jonathan found if you go for the 83- truck they list all the hoses that fit the FS6 compressor, unlike the 80-82 York compressor hoses they only have 1 of.

I did a little more looking into the 83-86 FS6 (sedan) compressor and what I found is unless you get a junk yard one, not recommended, they don't come with the suction or discharge manifolds. That is the little part the hose screws to that is bolted to the compressor.

I spent a few hours with the truck parts CD's to try and find the part numbers and think they are:
suction E1AZ 19E583-A
discharge E1AZ 19E582-A
Think they came with the bolts & gaskets.

I will see where I can get them just in case they don't come with the compressor.
Dave ----

FuzzFace2 wrote

...the 83-86 FS6 (sedan) compressor...

"Sanden"

No wonder why I could not find any thing for it
JK don't know why I got it wrong?
Dave ----

FuzzFace2 wrote

grumpin wrote

Going to jump in with a question.

On my 1992 Bronco, can I put a 1994 and up condenser in it? the A/C is adequate where I live, but hotter areas tax it.

I think my 1986 system is better than my Bronco.

I cant answer that question but if there is a junk yard with a 94 in it measure it and see how it mounts that do the same to yours.

Now I am going to say if it does "bolt in" I cant see it working any better than what you have now.
I say this because to cool that big old cave takes a lot of BTU's.
That is why they put rear HVAC systems in larger SUV's and vans.
Even my 02 Dodge Durango has a rear system and when not working as it should I can tell, both heat & AC.
Dave ----

That's what I was wondering.

And yes I agree, I figured it was the size of the interior. My wife's Suburban is loaded, that rear A/C and heat is nice. Except for all the hoses and lines under the hood! It has hydroboost brakes too.