What are the specs for AC system?

[ChrisZ]

Thanks Stephen, thats good enough to me, i got a complete system and just like to know how much freeze 12 i need to order, when i install it.

4 cans of 12 OZ will do it.

Thanks

Chris

[sblake01]

You only need 90% as much Freeze12 to replace R12 so three cans would be more than enough.

[Mitchka]

Sorry for taking so long to get back here, I drove my Zee down to Ark for an autocross event. I'm hoping to take it to SORC this August also...

Anyways, My 260Z is (unfortunately) an early model with blinkers under the front bumper, choke, the thin bumpers, and small dash. Good for collecting, but I know the under-dash area is limited. I really want a HVAC system I don't have to worry about, and that doesn't look tacky like the one it has.

[sblake01]

I wasn't sure if yours was early or late. That is one thing I found out about 260Zs. Only the late ones got the factoy air. Perhaps the 260Z FSM I have is a mid year revision because there's no way that factoy unit would fit under the early dash.

[zcarnut]

I wasn't sure if yours was early or late. That is one thing I found out about 260Zs. Only the late ones got the factoy air. Perhaps the 260Z FSM I have is a mid year revision because there's no way that factoy unit would fit under the early dash.

Stephen, my 260Z is an early type (small bumpers) and it has the factory ac system. In our Z car club there are four members with early 260Z and three of the four also have factory ac. However, one member has a very early production numbered 260Z and his car is strange in that not only does it not have ac, but it even lacks the holes in the firewall for the refrigerant lines. He does have the 260Z/280Z dash. So, apparently Nissan started adding the ac systems to the early 260Z's sometime after the 260Z production start date.

[sblake01]

Yeah, I guess my statement was rather broad. I should have said that the onlly 260Zs that I have ever seen with factory air were late ones. Does the early 260Z have the 240Z style dash as Mitchka said? If so, I don't see how the factory AC would fit under it.

[zcarnut]

... Does the early 260Z have the 240Z style dash as Mitchka said? If so, I don't see how the factory AC would fit under it.

All the early 260Z's I've seen have the 260/280Z style dash. Maybe Mitchka's was swapped?

[doradox]

Thanks Stephen, that's just the advice I was looking for.

I do have another question. After swapping in the "new" compressor from the JY I added the lube from the ebay Freeze 12 kit, and then added about 2 1/2 cans of the refrigerant. I used the old skool method of adding until I didn't see any more bubbles in the drier (I didn't have the manifold gauges at that time). My goal was to just get the system up and running and verify no leaks. Also, I didn't know to invert the can which I now understand is important to keep get a proper mix of the Freeze 12 components loaded into the system.

Now I'm wondering if it's worth starting over by pulling a vacuum, and then adding with the can inverted. I would need to pick up a vacuum pump cheap. Is this HF unit worthy? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96677 I'm sure it's not great, but is it good enough?

And is it worth doing this over? The cooling is marginal on a good day, so I figure any improvement probably does make it worth while.

240ZMAn,

If you didn't evacuate the system when you swapped the compressor you really need to. The air in the system will greatly reduce performance and increase operating pressure. The vacuum pump you mentioned will require an air compressor that can maintain about 4.5 CFM at 90 psi. They work ok If you have the air supply to run them right.

Steve

[240ZMan]

Thanks Steve, since I posted I did pull a vacuum and then loaded the Freeze 12. It's working reasonably well given the limitations of the dealer-installed system. I just want an AC system that will take the edge off the heat of the day on the freeway when it's too loud to have the windows open. The system is up to that, but not much more at this time of year when it's 95+.

[sblake01]

The vacuum pump you mentioned will require an air compressor that can maintain about 4.5 CFM at 90 psi. They work ok If you have the air supply to run them right.

So that's how they're able to sell those so cheap. My vacuum pump is self contained.

[240ZMan]

It worked "ok". I'll guess that your self-contained unit pulled a better vacuum, but at $10, the price was right for me given that I will (hopefully) only use it once.

[sblake01]

Well the main thing is to get the excess moisture and air out of the system. Do you have gauges? If so, did it pull down to -28.3 which is the basic guidline?