Phyte Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 My 260z is stock, but it does have an L28. As far as I can tell the A/C system is all 74 stock down to the York compressor. So far o'rielly and autozone have not been able to get the right drier for me. I had autozone order one for a 78 280z that had a different part number. Otherwise everything from 70-77 uses the same part. Here's my question. The stock A/C drier looks good, but it was kinda open to air for about 6 months. It was all bolted up so the air(moisture) would of had to go down the high line, through the evaporator and back up to the drier. What are the chances if I just use the one that was in it that it will hurt something? It still has fresh pag on the threads and there is no sign of moisture. I might note that I'm installing an L28et in a couple months so I'll have to use the 83 compressor and I can replace the drier then for that. Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evildky Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I'd take the dryer out and take it to them to match it, It's cheap enough and tends to be be one of the problem areas in my A/C experience, If I open system I replace the dryer, I'd hate to change the system twice, and do you have factory air? dealer air? or some other phantom aftermarket air? and keep im mind some one could have retrofitted and different unit in years past Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyte Posted June 8, 2004 Author Share Posted June 8, 2004 I'd take the dryer out and take it to them to match it, It's cheap enough and tends to be be one of the problem areas in my A/C experience, If I open system I replace the dryer, I'd hate to change the system twice, and do you have factory air? dealer air? or some other phantom aftermarket air? and keep im mind some one could have retrofitted and different unit in years past Its definitely factory. I'm going to try the old drier and if it works great. Like I said in a couple months I'm swapping out everything under the hood and I'll switch in a new one to go with the new compressor, etc. I took it to them and we tried about 5 different driers and non of them looked even close. Hopefully the 78 280z one they ordered will be the right one. We'll see on wednesday I guess. Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technicalninja Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 Two styles of "factory" air can be found on 74 260s. The Dealer installed air and the system that was actually installed in Japan. The Japanese system has rubber hoses ONLY at the compressor. All other lines are hard copper/brass?. The Japanese compressor (Hitachi) was round and located on drivers side of engine. the Dealer installed compressor was a big square York mounted on passenger side of engine. The Japanese reciever dryer had hard lines going to it and usually had a pressure switch mounted in dryer. It may be NLA. Autozone is not the source for this. Nissan or specialty Z parts source is. A/C supply store may be able to match something up The dealer installed R/D has rubber hoses to it, normally does not have a pressure switch in it, and will not show up in anyone's parts book for a Z. It is a "universal style" and needs to be matched at the store. It was used in thousands of applications and is the most common of all early aftermarket A/C parts. If you need this type it will be readily available and should be the cheapest R/D in the store. Store your R/D in the refridgerator (low humidity) and do not take caps off of it until you are ready for install. I have the vac pump attached to system before I connect R/D and immediatley pull vacuum after R/D installed. Save caps in tool box! Later- when you need to break into system again remove R/D first (after recoverering freon) put caps back on and stick it in fridge for storage. Put it with the beer. Your friends will wonder if you've gone crazy. But you will be able to use it again. You mentioned fresh PAG on threads. Have you changed over to R134? A brand new reciever dryer will fully saturate in 1 day exposed to atmosphere (probably take longer in Arizona and shorter in Hawaii). It is a water removing filter. A/C systems cannot stand water in them. Any water will freeze inside of expansion valve reducing cooling drastically. Moisture will contaminate the oil running through system and form acids as a byproduct. Initally the system will appear ok but just like the early Z rocker panels by the time you notice problems the entire system has been effected. I would not accept a R/D that was not sealed or looked like it has been sitting on shelf for years. Many people think when a system is put under vacuum we are trying to remove all of the air from the system. This happens in the first minute. The real reason we pull a vacuum (and leave it under vacuum for 30 min +) is to boil the water out of system. The deeper the vacuum is and the longer its applied both affect how well the moisture is removed from the system. If you are reusing a old exposed R/D store it uncapped in fridge for a few days then pull a deep vacuum and leave it on for a long time (5+ hours). It may help. I was able to use a Subaru R/D for my factory 78Z but it is different than a 74. if you have a Japanese system take R/D to an A/C supply house and try to match it something. Nissan wanted 100+ for mine, Think I got it for 45 Good luck Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB26powered74zcar Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I bought my drier for my oem installed air con in my early 260z from Victoria British. Everything was a perfect match... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyte Posted June 8, 2004 Author Share Posted June 8, 2004 Ok you've convinced me to keep trying to find a new one. My system has the york compressor with ALL rubber lines. I'm alittle confused because you said the factory had all rubber lines and had a hitachi compressor. Mine has all rubber lines with a york. I found a place here in Austin that has a drier that sounds like the same fittings mine have(over the phone), but they both are not on top. One is on top and one is on the side. There is a switch on the top. Will this one work as long as the fittings match up?? I'm leaving in about 5 hours to get it so hopefully this will get answered! Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyte Posted June 8, 2004 Author Share Posted June 8, 2004 Ok I've got it. I went to a place called Austin Rebuilders and they hooked me up with everything I need, for cheap too! He looked at what I had, went into the back and 30 seconds later I had everything I needed. Thanks for the help everyone. Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyte Posted June 9, 2004 Author Share Posted June 9, 2004 I just can't win. I got everything hooked up, and there was a vacuum leak at the compressor. Quick trip to autozone for a gasket and that was fixed. Vac'd it down and everything looked good. Put freon in and it blew cold! Three hours later all the freon is gone.. damn.. I guess my next step is to put some dye in the system and look for the leak and fix it.. man this is getting frustrating. Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyte Posted June 10, 2004 Author Share Posted June 10, 2004 I know I'm talking to myself here but its fixed. I had forgot to tighten the two bolts on the side of the york. I swear I tightened them when it was on the bench.. ehh.. stupid mistake. Blowing cold! Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me get this straight. You were looking for a recv drier that had the inlet, outlet, and pressure switch all in a Y at the top, right? And the one you found at first had the inlet at the top and outlet in the side? Nissan told me they couldn't get the Y type anymore. I've been holding onto the wrong type until I could find the Y one. So Austin Rebuilders had that type? Or did I misunderstand you? If not, what is their contact info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyte Posted June 11, 2004 Author Share Posted June 11, 2004 One of the many I got at autozone, yes one had the inlet on the side, outlet on the top with a spot for the pressure switch. Austin Rebuilders specializes in A/C and I guarantee they have what your looking for. They have a large warehouse FULL of older A/C componants. Their contact information is Austin Rebuilders 505 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 448-0884 Good luck. Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Phyte, I called him and he could only find the wrong one. He said that if I got the invoice number from you and the part number, he could probably find one pretty easily. Could you send it to me? Thanks a million! -Forrest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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