Wanting to convert AC over to R134a system. Any Portland area mechanic suggestions?

Shaldridge

Shaldridge

Active Member
Title kinda says it all. AC blows just not cold air. And since you can't recharge R12 systems anymore, I was wanting to make the dreaded switch over.

Anyone in the Portland/Milwaukie are no any mechanics that have done it or could do it?
 
Any AC shop should be able to do it... but I'm sure some will balk because it's RHD, and that's just scary/weird.
 
sk66 said:
Any AC shop should be able to do it... but I'm sure some will balk because it's RHD, and that's just scary/weird.
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Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought. My fear was finding one that "thinks" they can do it and messing something up. If it was up to me I'd just use country ac aka windows down but the wife is not a fan of this approach. :)
 
Hit up Dean's Car Care if money isn't an object to you and you don't mind a lack of communication with your mechanic. The only leg-up this place has on other shops is that they carry some parts in-house so repair turnarounds can be quicker. They've really f*** up a couple Delicas on here. Otherwise I'd say Japanese Auto Repair in SE Industrial will know all about a JDM diesel. I almost cruised by there before leaving Portland last month. It's a simple engine with standard AC parts, just freaks people out. Perhaps printing out the AC workshop manual section would allow you to bring it to a proper AC shop with confidence.
Shaldridge said:
If it was up to me I'd just use country ac aka windows down
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That's my current setup :D
 
connorwhite.online said:
Hit up Dean's Car Care if money isn't an object to you and you don't mind a lack of communication with your mechanic. The only leg-up this place has on other shops is that they carry some parts in-house so repair turnarounds can be quicker. They've really f*** up a couple Delicas on here. Otherwise I'd say Japanese Auto Repair in SE Industrial will know all about a JDM diesel. I almost cruised by there before leaving Portland last month. It's a simple engine with standard AC parts, just freaks people out. Perhaps printing out the AC workshop manual section would allow you to bring it to a proper AC shop with confidence.

That's my current setup :D
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Thanks. Yeah, Dean's seems to be everyone's default in the area.
 
Shaldridge said:
Thanks. Yeah, Dean's seems to be everyone's default in the area.
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Don't let your Delica get within 20 miles of Dean's. They took us for 7K and cost us an additional 7K to fix the problems they created. They won't even return your call to discuss the problems. The people there are very nice, until you pay the bill, but their work product turned out to be a steaming pile of dog stuff. BEWARE!
 
Recce01 said:
Don't let your Delica get within 20 miles of Dean's. They took us for 7K and cost us an additional 7K to fix the problems they created. They won't even return your call to discuss the problems. The people there are very nice, until you pay the bill, but their work product turned out to be a steaming pile of dog stuff. BEWARE!
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Yeah, I've heard a lot of mixed things about them.
 

AC R12 -> R134

I recently received my new Denso compressor from @Kellyn. Packaged up nicely and received in good condition. Thank you. I'm beginning to look into the entire R12 -> R134 conversation. I noticed there are conversation kits with adapters for the line connectors also few different parts numbers...
delicaforum.com delicaforum.com
 
Shaldridge said:
Title kinda says it all. AC blows just not cold air. And since you can't recharge R12 systems anymore, I was wanting to make the dreaded switch over.

Anyone in the Portland/Milwaukie are no any mechanics that have done it or could do it?
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Just recharge with R12. Buy some on eBay and have a shop charge it up. That’s what I just did since I didn’t want to deal with the conversion. Most likely never have to charge ever again. Blows cold now!
 
Shaldridge said:
Thought I replied to this. I think OttoEX is just an import guy. Fixes up "his" but not a shop.
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Nice enough folks but the work they did to the import I purchased from them was WAY below satisfactory. They are definitely not equipped for major a/c work.
 
Specialty Auto on 74th and Glisan just did some work on mine. Nice people and good communication, they may be able to help
 
My a/c worked for a few weeks last year after getting the 4DBF engine installed by T&A Auto on MLK. They converted the system to R134 I would not recommend this shop even though they do all the servicing on Javan imports vehicles. With the engine on my compressor flywheel isn't engaging when I push in the on button.

I'm going look over the forum again to do some trouble shooting, maybe it's just a fuse (doubtful). My van runs great besides this issue. I love everything about what I've accomplished with doing to it over the last 6 years, getting the 4DBF engine installed and all the other things I've been able to do myself, but not having a/c for my dogs on the road in the summer is quite a drag.
I stopped by Dean's yesterday and they said they are at the point of not wanting to work L-300 a/c issues because they've had such bad luck with their repairs failing after a short time. They said they would trouble shoot it, and look it over but not to expect anything but my wallet getting a little lighter. (I'm paraphrasing)

Something they also told me, and I'm just curious if anyone else feels this way is that doing the conversion to R134 on an L300 isn't a good idea because R134 will leak easier? Also they mentioned that because of the difference in R12 vs R134 that it can cause the compressor to work harder than necessary and lead to it failing or detonating.
 
Kyre said:
Just recharge with R12. Buy some on eBay and have a shop charge it up. That’s what I just did since I didn’t want to deal with the conversion. Most likely never have to charge ever again. Blows cold now!
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is it possible to convert an a/c system back to R12?
 
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