AC Expansion Valve Retrofit Question

[ktmall07]

Hey all, I'm working on an AC retrofit, but the truck never came with AC, someone installed it at a later date. Almost everything is the same as a stock truck with AC, except the expansion valve, shown in the picture below. It looks like a pretty basic valve, minus the block that comes on the stock expansion valve. I can't find any no name brands with valves that look quite like this one, and there's no part number that I can see. Anyone seen this before?

 

If there's no way to get a new one, is it really mandatory to replace it? Or could I just replace the O rings on both fittings and get away with it?

[eaglescout526]

That kinda looks like it would’ve been a dealer installed set up. The dealer kits used that expansion valve. You should be able to use a standard valve vs that one as it is for R12 probably unless it was converted at some point. 

[ktmall07]

I'm reasonably sure it was installed by a dealer, just at a later date than when the truck was originally purchased. 

 

So any expansion valve that's good for r134a should work out?

[eaglescout526]

It looks very similar to other dealer installed set ups I’ve seen. But curious since it is an HO. Didn’t think Chrysler offered a kit for the HO….it is the 92 one in your signature correct?

 

Yes, any valve ought to work, I just hope there’s one out there that will line up with the lines as the modern ones are the aluminum block. 

[ktmall07]

Yeah, that's the one! I'm not sure when the kit was installed.

 

All I've found online are the block style as well. I'll keep my eyes out though!

[eaglescout526]

I’m very curious about such a kit if Chrysler even offered one. 
 

Anywho, I’ll do a bit of digging in the parts catalog and throw a part number your way for the expansion valve. Should give you a good lead. 

[cruiser54]

You don't need to replace it when converting from R12 to R134a. 

I've always left the original valve in when I've converted. 38* vent temp in Arizona summer heat. 

[ghetdjc320]

I had factory AC in my 91. I don’t see a traditional expansion valve in that pic. Are you referring to an orifice tube? If your installing new AC, why not just swap to all the components from an HO model XJ? 

[ktmall07]

That's not a bad idea. I don't know how long the whole system sat without working, so I'm planning on replacing pretty much everything except the hoses, which look in good shape. 

 

My question is, can I really just swap out the parts from a factory HO kit? The lines coming out of the firewall are in different spots than where they're at on a factory HO setup. I'm worried that I'll open a can of worms digging into the firewall just to find out that there's no way to rearrange the lines themselves to fit. 

[eaglescout526]

I mean it’s sounds tedious but you should be able to just swap parts around. I can’t imagine Chrysler having a kit that is completely different than what the factory got. I know the major difference between factory and dealer is the liquid hose has a muffler on it. 

[ktmall07]

@cruiser54 if I just left the original valve in and replaced the O-rings on both hoses at that end, should that be good? Is there anything else I need to replace to stop leaks?

[ktmall07]

I think I've found an exact match for the expansion valve, made by 4 Seasons. Has anyone used their products before?

 

https://www.carparts.com/details/Jeep/Wrangler/4-Seasons/A-fs-C_Expansion_Valve/1992/FS38683.html?TID=gglpla&origin=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_campaign=12885424929&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlK-WBhDjARIsAO2sErQrUQQUw6FzATYNT1jAId_JBzKbRJAYfwin28Xuql82EYqEh1Z_FkcaArCyEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

After doing some more research, it seems like the whole system might be a dealer kit for a YJ. I'm a little confused as to why YJ parts were used when XJ parts are literally identical to an MJ, but who knows.  I'm at least one step closer.

 

Only problem now is the compressor. I'm planning on getting a new one, but can't find a compressor with a wire socket that looks like this:

 

Anyone seen this before?

 

[eaglescout526]

It’s possible that Chrysler made only a YJ AC kit for the YJ and was made to work on the XJ and MJ as well. The early HO years we’re pretty uniform across the board. 

[cruiser54]

Four Seasons has been around since Mobey Dick was a minnow. 

[cruiser54]

One of many passed along by really old folks.