AC Hoses

[KYŌT]

The AC hoses on my 88 Comanche were cut by a PO. I am wanting to add them back in and convert to R134a. It looks like I need to the original style hoses from what I read for my renix. I also read that these hoses are no longer available but I found this: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=9805924&cc=1181584&pt=6900&jsn=16342

Is this the top hose that goes from the condenser to the compressor. Only making sure because all of the write-ups I've found so far said that there aren't any new options for all of the hoses.. hoping they at least started making those.

[KYŌT]

Should I just replace all of the AC components since everything has just been disconnected and I'm not sure of the existing components condition? 

[Gojira94]

Start with hoses, accumulator/drier and o-rings. Then vacuum it down and see if it holds. If it does, then you can see if the compressor is good. One thing to look for in a bad compressor, in the absence of refrigerant leaks, is low side pressure too high/ high side too low/ shifting back and forth (inner seals compromised). Consider renting a flush gun to clean out the evaporator, and if possible, the condenser. Go back in with 30-32oz of R134a and use PAG 100 oil. If you can get all the oil out of the compressor and the rest of the system, complete fill is about 7.5oz.

[KYŌT]

26 minutes ago, Gojira94 said:

Start with hoses, accumulator/drier and o-rings. Then vacuum it down and see if it holds. If it does, then you can see if the compressor is good. One thing to look for in a bad compressor, in the absence of refrigerant leaks, is low side pressure too high/ high side too low/ shifting back and forth (inner seals compromised). Consider renting a flush gun to clean out the evaporator, and if possible, the condenser. Go back in with 30-32oz of R134a and use PAG 100 oil. If you can get all the oil out of the compressor and the rest of the system, complete fill is about 7.5oz.

 

This is very helpful, thank you!

[watchamakalit]

Sounds like a good idea until you realize at least one renix hose is unobtainuim.

[KYŌT]

1 hour ago, watchamakalit said:

Sounds like a good idea until you realize at least one renix hose is unobtainuim.

I know.. I went through all my photos and videos yesterday and found a junkyard one I took pictures of. Had everything I needed but didn’t have AC on the mind.

[ghetdjc320]

You can alway grab a universal hose kit with reduced barrier hose and a hydraulic crimper and make whatever you need 

[watchamakalit]

1 hour ago, ghetdjc320 said:

You can alway grab a universal hose kit with reduced barrier hose and a hydraulic crimper and make whatever you need 

I am intrigued.....

 

Did some quick price checks,. From what I see for less than a hundred dollars I'm making an ac hose?  Can't be that easy, can it?

[ghetdjc320]

2 minutes ago, watchamakalit said:

I am intrigued.....

https://coldhose.com/products/universal-reduced-barrier-r-134a-hose-kit?variant=35532365365408

 

there are other kits as well that would work. Add a drier and a binary or trinary pressure switch from vintage air and you have all the necessary hoses and fittings. Amazon has some decent hydraulic reduced barrier crimpers or you can always take them into a shop to have them crimped once the length and clocking has been set.

[watchamakalit]

30 minutes ago, ghetdjc320 said:

https://coldhose.com/products/universal-reduced-barrier-r-134a-hose-kit?variant=35532365365408

 

there are other kits as well that would work. Add a drier and a binary or trinary pressure switch from vintage air and you have all the necessary hoses and fittings. Amazon has some decent hydraulic reduced barrier crimpers or you can always take them into a shop to have them crimped once the length and clocking has been set.

Is there a flare tool available to remake the flare on the steel line?  I don't recall how the flare looks on my broken one.

 

Edit: the flare looks like a flattened bubble flare. I would rather remake the entire line like the original,than to go all rubber if I can. Here is a pic of my broken unicorn.

 

 

[robfg67]

Or, try reaching out to member Kkilmer87 from Maine. He has a ton of MJ parts.

[ghetdjc320]

13 hours ago, watchamakalit said:

Is there a flare tool available to remake the flare on the steel line?  I don't recall how the flare looks on my broken one.

 

Edit: the flare looks like a flattened bubble flare. I would rather remake the entire line like the original,than to go all rubber if I can. Here is a pic of my broken unicorn.

 

 

I believe those are straight cut o ring fittings. Coldhose has lengths of aluminum tubing and all the fittings. 

[Salvagedcircuit]

Gonna drop this here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126363936003

 

[watchamakalit]

4 hours ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

Gonna drop this here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126363936003

 

That's the hose that is commonly available. The unobtainuim hose is there one in my picture above. This hose you linked is unfortunately not the hose I'm looking for. 

[89 MJ]

There are places that should be able to remake that hose. I’m sure most hot rod shops have the tool to make them. Any shop that installs Vintage Air would probably have the tool to do it. 

[KYŌT]

18 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

There are places that should be able to remake that hose. I’m sure most hot rod shops have the tool to make them. Any shop that installs Vintage Air would probably have the tool to do it. 

That was my plan if the ones I find are in bad shape. At least have them comply them.

[Salvagedcircuit]

7 hours ago, watchamakalit said:

That's the hose that is commonly available. The unobtainuim hose is there one in my picture above. This hose you linked is unfortunately not the hose I'm looking for. 

This is the hose that's commonly available

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=9805924&cc=1181584&pt=6900&jsn=16342

 

With the ebay link and the rockauto link, both lines are now available. Yay.

[KYŌT]

1 hour ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

This is the hose that's commonly available

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=9805924&cc=1181584&pt=6900&jsn=16342

 

With the ebay link and the rockauto link, both lines are now available. Yay.

 

Will this work for my 88? Says 89-91.. I thought 89 would fit mine until I saw that.

[watchamakalit]

The line I am looking for goes from the drier to the evaporator. It is not available unless custom made.

[jkchr1s]

I ran in to a similar situation with my TJ after doing a V8 swap. I ended up buying a generic hose off Amazon and having a local shop splice the original fitting that was impossible to find on one end and using the fitting that worked on the other.

 

It seemed impossible to find a shop that dealt with AC fittings... but I ended up using a hydraulic shop. Look around locally for hydraulic shops as they have the tools and fittings to crimp the rubber hose on to the metal fittings. They were also knowledgeable about where to get hard to find A/C line fittings.

[jkchr1s]

Oh and I forgot to mention, don't actually use hydraulic hose for AC... I found an AC line with the correct fitting on one side and just had them crimp the hard line fitting on to the new AC line. I believe you'll run in to leaks if you use hydraulic hose.

[KYŌT]

Getting into the cold season here in Georgia so not in a rush. Considering doing what Ghetdjc320 did here but for my 88: 

 

[KYŌT]

Unobtainium score

[watchamakalit]

6 hours ago, Flores said:

Unobtainium score

For sale?

[KYŌT]

13 hours ago, watchamakalit said:

For sale?

 

Sorry no. I need them myself but I'm thinking of having a shop make me new copies can always double one if you need it.