Air-Cooled Comfort, Part I

Our ’73’s A/C already...        read full caption Our ’73’s A/C already had about $900 worth of repairs, and it still didn’t work right when it arrived at Corvette Clinic. Several problems we found were the A/C had no volume of air at the vents; there was no low-pressure switch (to keep the system from freezing at road speeds); and the customer complained that it was still “always hot.” Prior repairs included replacing the accumulator, fan motor, and evaporator. Instead of looking at the entire picture, someone was simply throwing parts at the system, hoping that one would be the magic cure. It just doesn’t work that way.

Another “repair”...        read full caption Another “repair” we found was the A/C recirculate vent door, which is on the passenger side, right in front of the windshield. These parts aren’t available anymore, so you may have a hard time finding them. Even so, you’d have to look long and hard to find a GM parts number for duct tape and hardware cloth. If you want cold air, take the time to find the parts to do the job right. Also worth mentioning: Check the seal at the back of the underside of your hood. If this seal is damaged or if you have a cowl-induction hood without the proper seals around the air cleaner, it will allow hot air to enter through this vent and make your system a little less efficient.

Speaking of seals—this...        read full caption Speaking of seals—this is what was used for most of the seals on this system. It’s designed to seal around the hoses as they go through the housings. This chunk was removed from the fresh-air vent.

Connections can be a major...        read full caption Connections can be a major factor in how well your A/C unit performs. This high-blower connector was melted because of the heat generated by a bad connection.

Once again, another ingenious...        read full caption Once again, another ingenious use for “dum-dum.”

This system was converted...        read full caption This system was converted to 134a, as evidenced by the adapter.

But whenever you put in a...        read full caption But whenever you put in a different refrigerant you should also use the supplied sticker to inform others of the change.

When evacuating or charging...        read full caption When evacuating or charging an A/C system, identification of the refrigerant, proper tools, and knowledge are essential. NEVER evacuate a system by letting the refrigerant into the atmosphere, and be wary of the high pressure of the refrigerant and frostbite, which can result from exposure to the refrigerant.

With today’s technology,...        read full caption With today’s technology, hose clamps should never be used on an R134a system’s hoses. The potential for leaking is greatly increased, and it could possibly turn into a safety hazard if the clamp ever fails. Don’t do it.

When we removed the accumulator...        read full caption When we removed the accumulator we saw a greenish residue at the seal. This is a material to help locate leaks within the A/C system. Even though the accumulator was new, someone was still trying to locate a leak. If you see any brown residue inside the hoses or anywhere in the system, stop and get the system checked, because the brown residue is either burned oil or the desiccant is bad.

We found the leak for them....        read full caption We found the leak for them. When we were removing the hard lines at the firewall, we noticed that the small line that goes to the bottom of the evaporator was only finger tight.

There’s an O-ring inside...        read full caption There’s an O-ring inside the connection, so it probably did not empty the system immediately. This line is virtually impossible to tighten once the system is installed, which is probably why it didn’t get checked.

GM used different compressors...        read full caption GM used different compressors throughout the shark years. This is an A6 unit that was used until early ’77 and then replaced with the R-4 unit, which was used through ’82. The A6 unit is more durable, but it does have some problems. The low side hose is located right above the exhaust manifold, and the fact that it’s almost 30-year-old technology means we’ll be replacing it with a Sanden unit that Chris offers in his kit.

There are some other problem...        read full caption There are some other problem areas inside the car, too. With the housings disassembled, check the diverter door for broken hinges. This will keep the door from closing properly. Think of it as running the A/C with the heater on.

We put a small piece of solid...        read full caption We put a small piece of solid tube into the broken area and used epoxy to hold it in place. Check the operation of the valve once you’re done.

Check all of the vacuum valve...        read full caption Check all of the vacuum valve actuators to make sure they operate properly. A vacuum pump with a gauge will let you know if the diaphragm is cracked and leaking air.

Now is a perfect time to get...        read full caption Now is a perfect time to get the heater core checked for leaks and to make sure it’s not plugged.

The firewall of your Corvette...        read full caption The firewall of your Corvette separates you from the heat of the engine, so make sure the firewall is clean and straight where the A/C housing mounts to the firewall.

When reassembling the system,...        read full caption When reassembling the system, use urethane rope to seal the housing pieces together, and also to the firewall to keep that hot air from entering the A/C system.

We mentioned that one of the...        read full caption We mentioned that one of the problems with our system was the lack of volume of air the fan was pushing out of the vents. We found several reasons for this and, though it may seem trivial, when you add up all of these problems, you find a drastic effect on the efficiency of the system. Broken parts like this one will let a lot of air escape under the dash instead of bringing it out to the driver and passenger.

Seals will deteriorate in...        read full caption Seals will deteriorate in time, and the fact that our system had been removed and reinstalled previously meant that the chances of the seals operating properly were slim. You can see how the seal is perforated where it mated, and if you tear the seal or it doesn’t seat exactly the same way, each one of those low spots is a potential leak. Corvette Central has seals to replace any damaged ones, and now is the time to do it.

Another problem area would...        read full caption Another problem area would be the ductwork under the dash. Even though the ducting may be in good condition, GM used a double-sided tape to keep the parts sealed properly. Due to years of use or removal for one reason or another, the tape on our ducting has long since been ineffective. Once again, this doesn’t make the air from your system cooler, it just directs it to you where it “feels” cooler and does the most good.

Check the diverter box to...        read full caption Check the diverter box to make sure the mating edges where the box screws together are sealed properly. This is a good place to use more of the urethane rope to seal up any leaks.

The shark years ('68-'82) typified for many the finest in styling of all Corvettes. When hearing the word Corvette, swoopy lines and Coke-bottle shapes instantly come to mind. For many owners of shark-bodied Corvettes, another thing that comes to mind is heat. This is one of the most common complaints we hear about these cars. Although the air-conditioning system worked well for the technology of the day, dated technology, coupled with parts deteriorated with age, can make a shark's air conditioning seem almost non-existent. Seems that everyone, including us, is trying to find a way to bring their shark's climate-control system up to today's standards--but a workable, installable kit has eluded us all. Until now! There is an alternative to driving your shark only in the cooler spring and fall seasons.

You may have heard that before, maybe even from us, but Chris Petris of the Corvette Clinic told us that he's developed a system that will keep you cool in your Corvette for years to come. He has systems designed for '68-'73, '74-'77, and '78-'82 Corvettes. He also informed us that it takes more than simply installing a retrofit A/C kit with a different compressor to really make these systems cool like they should.

We'll be taking a two-part look at this topic, and what Chris does to drop the cockpit temperature of a shark Corvette.

These are some things to look for BEFORE you even start installing the first new part on your shark’s air conditioning. In the next installment we’ll be looking at the actual installation of the system, and we’ll also show you some little tricks to ensure that your A/C system works as well as it possibly can. Maybe, just maybe, it will work better than GM ever intended it to. If you take the time to address these concerns and remedy any problems you find, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how “cool” you can be in your shark.

Click Here To Go To Part II