Replacement AC compressor

[ktmall07]

I'm looking to replace my compressor as part of an R134a retrofit, do I need to get a specific compressor, or will a stock replacement do?

 

(I know that replacing the compressor is not mandatory, but mine has sat for years without running so better safe than sorry!)

[eaglescout526]

Sanden 508 or 708 compressor will do. You can always put power to the clutch of the Compressor and crank it and see how it feels in terms of its internals moving around 

[ktmall07]

What's the difference between the 708 and the 709? The compressor on my truck now is a 709t. I can find other 709's, but not a 708 for a 92.

[eaglescout526]

Maybe I have it wrong on the model number for the 700 series. Basically one is a 5 piston model and the other is a 7 piston. So the 709 is probably the replacement model for what you have. 

[Minuit]

Technically the Sanden name for the 7-cylinder R134a unit is the SD7H15 (SD5H14 for the 5 cylinder unit used by the Renix trucks, but in the R12 days it was called the SD508). I don't think there is an SD708.

 

I've seen plenty of R134a remans built on R12-era SD709 cores. It really isn't a big deal. I doubt there is much if any actual difference inside.

 

Sanden has a long list of replacement compressors based on refrigerant, connection style, and belt drive. The one for the '96 XJ is 4727.

 

When I retrofitted my system to the R134a native system from the' 96 XJ, I spent north of 300 bucks on a genuine Sanden compressor - it very quickly repaid me by leaking from the front seal and making excessive NVH, just like the much cheaper parts store reman that replaced it the night before I took the truck on a cross country roadtrip. I am no fan of Sanden compressors and I would use a different style if I could. I think there is a much smoother running Seltec model that is a very close fit but with the fittings turned 90 degrees to the Sanden; close enough that it would work by making some slight modifications to the suction and discharge lines, but that line of research got cut short for personal reasons before I got a chance to confirm.

 

Welcome to what I think about at night.

[pizzaman09]

My truck was converted to R134a using the original compressor by the Jeep dealership that owned the truck before me.  I added the conversion fittings from R12 to R134a and it works absolutely brilliantly on R134a.

 

Don't ask me how I installed the conversion fittings, it was definitely the wrong way and I don't think I could have possibly made a larger mess if I tried.

 

This info may not be useful but my point is a compressor swap may not be useful.