Phantom Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Not the point. The one installed on my car is available at the website I indicated and it has lasted 10 years for me. You can also use its model number to cross-reference with Sanden to see if they have an equivalent. Trying to help out here with a unit that will fit properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alainburon Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 FWIW - Here is a photo of the AC compressor that JCI installed in my car in 2004. It is still working great. Hope it helps. Here's a link to a website that sells them. http://www.techchoiceparts.com/inventory Did you use R12 or 134? Just wondering what works best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Used "Freeze 12" which is an R-12 clone. It's worked well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alainburon Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Thanks, I will go that route as well. I heard 134 does not work too well in these cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 134 is higher pressure and has a little less cooling capacity per unit volume that R-12. It also is corrosive to seals in older AC systems. The stock Z AC in the S30's is good to maybe 90 degrees if the car starts out in the shade. Above that and the cabin gets warm or if the car is heat soaked it takes about 30 miles to start cooling down. I assume the Vintage air system would be more effective but my only experience is with the system in my '77 280Z with either the L28 or the LS1 compressors. I think the fan capacity and evaporator capacity is what makes the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 When I was ordering my vintage air stuff the guy said the evaporator, compressor and condenser has to be designed for 134. As long as it all is, it's just as cold. How many cars AC systems in the last several years haven't been cold? I think in the early days of the switch they were just using 134 in the old style hardware. When I was at the AC shop getting my hoses crimped, that guy said they are talking about doing away with 134 in the next few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 (edited) My friend and I are both restoring our dashes at the same time. Since vintage air is being used we wanted to make sure we get as much airflow as possible. We combined Mercedes vents with the Datsun vents. They happen to use the same size hose as the vintage air output, so no having to make the hose smaller by the vents. In the middle picture you can see how much larger they are than the Datsun. Edited June 8, 2014 by socorob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Started on restoring the cracked datsun Z dash yesterday. Got it dremeled out, filled with great stuff foam, shaped it with a hacksaw blade and put the 1st coat of the padded dash filler from urethane supply company on. I got too small of a can of it, so I may have to order another can and not be able to finish it until next weekend. Hate when that happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelsonian Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Out of curiosity what year and model Mercedes vents were used here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 I don't remember because I got them for my last car. All I know was it took 2 different ones. They were all from a late 70s very early 80s Mercedes. I used the rear part of the ones with the 2.5" inlet and the ball vent from the one with the larger inlets. The vents appeared to be the same except the ones from the large ones were blacker, that's why I used them. Here's the dash after a coat then a sand and a second coat of the padded dash filler. This stuff is hard to sand. I ended up using a DA very lightly on the flat areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Looking good so far . . If it turns out good and stays together after you reinstalled it then I'll do mine , I'm not too crazy about my dash cap ( came with car ) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 Yeah I figured with how much work I put in the car so far, I had to at least attempt to do it right. If it doesn't work out I can always slap a toupee on it later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NgoZ Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Looking great Rob. Will need to stop by on a weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 Yeah probably won't work too much this weekend but will be there next one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alrighty Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Hey Phantom its all about condensor size and air flow.The reason the early 90's cars had such terrible a/c was due to the switch to r-134a with no condensor change(from r-12).They where trying to use up existing stock of condensers which caused piss poor cooling due to about 20% decrease in efficiency due to the new mandated r-134a.Once manufactures got rid rid of existing stock of condensers and put on properly sized(efficient) condensers the problem went away mostly.Hope this helps,I believe In oversize(efficient) condensers for this reason.That's my two cents hope it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Sprayed the flex tex on. Not too bad. Have a couple little spots I missed to touch up then to paint it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Looks good . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 I got the car started and I think all the only wiring left to do is inside the car. I'm using a 2004 Pontiac GTO brake light switch on both the clutch and brake pedals for the cruise control, which is what I'm working on now. Here are the way I set up the controls. An on off rocker to turn it on and some momentary push buttons for set/accel and resume/coast. I have an extra set of contacts on the clutch switch. What is everyone's thoughts on making it so I have to push the clutch in to start it? I'm torn as to do it or not, as I see benefits of having it and not having it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Looking great! I have the clutch safety start switch on my truck. I HATE it! I think idiot switches like that are for idiots-don't do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 My 1st car in high school was a POS and being able to turn the key in gear and drive it to the shoulder was slightly less embarassing (and easier) than having to push it every time it broke down on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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