Flight_951

I'm in the unenviable position of buying a new compressor (second time this year!) and want to convert to R134a this time. Has anyone installed this R134a retrofit kit from 944online.com?

Photo of kit

The cost is $495 and seems to include everything, except seals as far as I can see.

Any advice on ease of installation, product quality, etc. is appreciated...

Sam Lin

I'm sorta looking at something similar, I'm interested in any info also.

Sam

Flight_951

Maybe we can get a group-buy going? :-)

They can't be moving too many a/c compressors going into November, even in Arizona.

elvisizer

i'd be interested- my compressor is toast.

Sam Lin

I don't know what that 944online compressor is, but if I got a new one I'd definitely want a rotary compressor like Vertex has. If that 944online one is rotary, great.

Sam

Flight_951

I sent them an email asking about the rotary compressor, seals, and the possibility of a group-buy. I'll update the thread with their response and we can decide from there.

Sam Lin

134A seal kit is under $20 at any auto parts store.

Sam

Flight_951

Ok, I have some more information from my correspondence with 944online.com about the kit:

- The compressor in this kit is a *rotary* unit.

- The kit comes with all in the picture (compressor, receiver/dryer, expansion valve, etc.)

- Regarding seals, the kit requires replacing a small section of hose in your existing system and as such effectively removes a couple of the old seals, therefore only a couple will remain (depending on year). Replacing these remaining seals is *not* required (but I for one am planning to do it while it's open.) Seals are about $2 each, and they can supply them if needed.

- BTW, to clarify, this kit retrofits an AC equipped 944 that uses R12 gas to one that uses R134a. It will *not* add AC to a 944 that does not have AC...

I need to speak with Ian personally to find out the actual cost per kit if we can line up some actual buyers. This info was gathered via email and while speaking with another employee on the phone.

I'll post the cost when I speak with him, and we can go from there.

Sam Lin

Thanks for the update!

Sam

Sam Lin

Oh yeah, I remember seeing a thicker/higher-efficiency A/C condensor for sale on some site, I would probably want to shotgun everything and swap one of those in too. I will try and find info.

Sam

odie

You need nothing more than a $30 kit from your local Autozone or Walmart. New compressor and drier are not needed. A new drier certainly won't hurt, especially given the age of our cars. But I wouldn't bother unless they are cheap. My Fiero's drier was only $35 but I didn't bother.

If you can drain any old oil out of the system, great. But it's not needed as the two different oils do not react with each other. But they don't mix either. The old oil stuff just sits in the low spots. Most of the old oil has probably leaked out with the R-12 anyway.

If you can get a vacuum pump use it for a couple of hours to get any moisture out of the system. A hot dry day is the best for doing this.

Put the new stuff in.

I've converted my 88 Fiero, 85 Volvo & 92 Jeep with great success.

ErichCS

My A/C is not working either and i would like to convert to 134a and during this change all the 16 year old components that havent worked properly for the past 5 years...rather do it one time and do it right!
Thanks for the update Fligt im definately interested!
Erich

elvisizer

unless your compressor is dead, which covers a few people in this thread, like me.

Peckster

I did the cheapo conversion this spring, it works great! Cost me about $200 total including labor.

Flight_951

OK, I just spoke with Ian via telephone, and he gave me more information and told me that he is willing to do a group-buy.

The compressors in these kits are brand new Sanden rotary units with a one year warranty. They are *not* rebuilt.

He does not think the seal replacement is worthwhile. (And the earlier price I was given of $2 is incorrect. They are actually expensive o-rings and if they are not leaking now, he recommends not replacing them.) Each person should use their best judgement with the seals on their car.

These kits are available for early and late cars (please specify) with the only difference being in the expansion valve. He says the swap is very straightforward.

The normal price is $507 delivered ($495 per kit plus $12 insured shipping in the continental US), which is actually very good already.

Here's the deal...

If we have five (5) kits ordered, he will reduce the price for each by 10% to $445.50 plus $12 insured shipping for a total of...

>>> $457.50 per kit delivered to your door <<<

He has more than five kits in stock right now and they are ready to ship.

I told him I'd get back to him at the end of this week with the final number ... Let's say Friday, October 24 at noon ET ...

Please PM me if you are interested with your user id and real name, year/model of car. I will then email him a list of buyers and we can each call him directly to make the purchases beginning Friday afternoon.

Note: If we fall short of five buyers I don't expect him to honor the cheaper price, nor do I expect anyone else to make a purchase. (I'm buying regardless because my current compressor is making grinding noises.)

HTH