Refurbing a Very Early A/C System

[DMC-81]

I still have to replace that tape after my a/c box resto, but I don' t rembember if it was just around the pipes or around the whole #105847 seal, can you point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Sure, for clarity, I was referring to the black duct tape that was around the outermost seal, not the gooey no-drip tape (106781) that was still present and in good shape on my car.

Originally there was only one piece basically on the top of the seal, but I cut pieces to fit in between the pipes as much as possible and followed that with tape around the circumference of the seal. Like so:

[Helirich]

Nice write up! For others that might be reading this, you can use argon for pressure test. It is dry like nitrogen and you might be more likely to have it around. (if you weld) It's more expensive, but you won't be using much.

[DMC-81]

Nice write up! For others that might be reading this, you can use argon for pressure test. It is dry like nitrogen and you might be more likely to have it around. (if you weld) It's more expensive, but you won't be using much.

Thanks!

[David T]

Any inert pressurized gas will do. Nitrogen is cheap and is what is used by A/C guys. In a pinch you can use dry pressurized air but the idea of Nitrogen is that because it is so highly pressurized, all the moisture is "squeezed" out of it.

[DMC-81]

By the way, I should give a status update:

At this time, which is 3 plus years since the refurb, this 40 year old system is still keeping the car cool. No top ups were necessary in the meantime.

[Helirich]

Any inert pressurized gas will do. Nitrogen is cheap and is what is used by A/C guys. In a pinch you can use dry pressurized air but the idea of Nitrogen is that because it is so highly pressurized, all the moisture is "squeezed" out of it.

Yea, I use to have a nitro bottle when I did refridge work. I was not in the business, but I got the license because I did so much refridge work on my wife's restaurant/bar. You can't believe how many units there are in one restaurant/bar.

It is the cheapest inert gas. I had a project where I needed to weld stainless tube. It's best to "back purge" tube with argon when welding on the outside. So I got the nitro bottle filled with argon and had a seperate line to the inside of the tube. After that job, I was welding a stainless fuel tank. Same thing applied about the back purge. Ever since, I've kept it charged with argon. It's nice to have a backup bottle for welding because argon always seems to run out right in the middle of a welding project.

[Henrik]

... the piston & swashplate assembly... Although Sanden says the piston assembly cannot be refurbished ( i.e. rings, etc)

As a former Sanden Compressor Application Engineer and Lab Manager...: Correct, the piston rings are non-replaceable. And to be really picky... the SD compressors use wobble plates, not swash plates. Awesome work Dana!

[DMC-81]

As a former Sanden Compressor Application Engineer and Lab Manager...: Correct, the piston rings are non-replaceable. And to be really picky... the SD compressors use wobble plates, not swash plates. Awesome work Dana!

Thanks Henrik!