AC Expansion Valve Repair and Setting

[Outlier]

I've checked out the sources from this post and found that they don't currently have the Evaporator and expansion valve.

Does anyone have some other possible sources?

Thanks.

[Ben's Z]

Andrew,

I put Freeze 12 in the car on Friday last week, it is pretty cool coming out of the vents but I want your opinion. Can I swing by this weekend? I am Louisiana/Mississippi right now, should be interesting to see if any freon leaked out while I was gone this week and the car being parked. I want to see you AC set up because I just don't see mine working all that long so I might as well start collecting parts now. I like the orifice tube idea. I bought a new drier but the fitting were not "clocked" correctly like the OE one that is on there. Did you replace or bend your copper lines to get it to fit the new drier you bought? Or was it clocked right?

[ZCurves]

You can certainly come by. I need to post pics of what I did so others can see. I did install an Expansion Valve but would prefer the Orifice Tube if I were going to do it again. There are AC specialty shops that could make up a line to use a Ford or GM Orifice Tube. You could be the Orifice Tube guinea pig :classic:. As for the clocking of the fittings on the Drier, mine are off a little -but that is no problem. You will have to remove the mounting flange though, but it is just tacked on -then you use the OEM Datsun bracket.

[Outlier]

OK. I was following down additional leads on an evaporator this week and one showed up on my front porch.

Really.

I had ordered one from Motorsports last December (http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/SAC08) but it was back-ordered with no telling when (or if) it would come in. Well it was Christmas in July and it came with an new expansion valve as well (at $179, though it is $209 now).

With about 11 hours of work over 3 days it is installed. Following the Datsun service manual instructions I was able to do the work without removing the dashboard. I did find that all of the foam seals on the duct work had deteriorated to dust and goo. I took the time to clean each piece thoroughly and replace the foam seals throughout.

The evaporator and expansion valve fit fairly well, though I did need to reshape the copper tubing to match.

Now I need to find a compatible receiver-drier and then I will get the system evacuated and charged. There are

three receiver-drier configurations and mine is the one hardest to find. Of course Motorsports has it in stock for $339 (too rich for me).

Finally, I did find one other source for the evaporators. AMC in Graham, Texas (http://www.marketworks.com/storefrontprofiles/default.aspx?sfid=75198) has them listed. I've seen other posts from people who have used theirs.

I feel like I made good progress this week on the car and I hope to drive it more this summer.

Edited July 31, 2011 by Outlier

[hr369]

good used expansion valves are getting harder to find.

i've been thinking about using other evaporators out of

newer nissans that came with r134. the ones i've looked at on ebay have the hoses on the same side as the 280z. the only problem would be size. it would have to fit into the evaporator box. hoses would have to be made but any a/c shop can do that.

on my 78 i have a hybrid system. i use an aftermarket

parallel condenser, 280zx dryer and a 300zx compressor.

Edited July 31, 2011 by hr369

[Outlier]

Out of curiosity, which 280zx drier did you use? Did you need to modify the lines running to and from it? Were you able to use the existing pressure switch or a new/different one? Thanks.

[hr369]

i believe the dryer was from a 79 and i used the pipe from the 79 that connects up to the pipe coming out of the firewall. the 79 pipe i had to shape a tad to make it connect up to the dryer. you will notice that the low pressure switch is not located on the dryer where the 78 and earlier switch is located. i took off the stock nissan low pressure cut out switch thats in this photo and put

in an aftermarket dual high/low cut out switch.

i also had to saw off the mounting tabs on the dryer so that

it would fit inside the 78 dryer mount.

z31 compressor

z31 hose end used to make new hoses

aftermarket parallel condenser

in hawaii i like to run the a/c year round.

i've also installed a junkyard pusher fan.

you should be able to still get the original 78 though.

black dragon has them for 49 bucks.

http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icatalog/zr/full.aspx?Page=28

Edited August 13, 2011 by hr369

[Outlier]

I installed the four seasons receiver drier last weekend and re-used the existing pressure switch. Yesterday I took it to the A/C shop where the evacuated the system, added oil and charged it with R12. The pressure switch leaked around the threads as the pressure came up so they sucked back out the r12 and put thread goop on the pressure switch and tried again. This time it sealed.

This morning it is leaking again at the pressure switch so I'm going to get an aftermarket one with an O ring seal and begin again. I'm getting tired of buying R12 at $100/pound. I will share what I learn.

[zeeboost]

Zcurves - I have a '77 280z that I'm trying to get the HVAC system up and running. The compressor will engage, but the system has had a fair-sized crack in one of the lines for several years (been sitting in a barn for a while). I replaced it (suction line running to compressor) but since the system has been exposed for a while, I want to replace the evaporator (hopefully with a modern expansion valve), receiver, and pressure switch. While I have the dash out, I'd also like to replace the heater core, hoses, and water **** if possible. I'm giving this car to my brother and he's not very mechanically inclined, so I'm trying to make sure he won't have issues with this stuff. Parts stores don't even show an evaporator, expansion valve, or water ****.

Anyways, I was wondering what kind of shop you went to for your a/c parts. I doubt just any a/c repair facility will have these parts. If I get the heater core through a generic parts store, it would take a few days before I'd get my hands on it. I'm looking for something local because I have to get this Z put back together by the end of this week. It's tempting to just drive over to Houston to the same place you purchased yours from, but surely there has to be a shop here in Austin that could help me out...I simply don't know what kind of shop to look for. For instance, should I go to a radiator shop for the heater core? I thought I read a hydraulic shop could help with the expansion valve, but that didn't sound right to me. I'd appreciate any kind of help with this, thanks.

[zeeboost]

bump

Need this car out and driving by the end of the week.

[ZCurves]

Wow! You have a lot on your plate to complete before the end of the week. I would suggest that you get it mechanically sound for now and then guide your brother for the rest of it. As for the A/C, I will certainly help you to replicate what I have done. Go ahead and do the heater stuff for now since those parts will be easier to get (except the Water **** - there is a repair kit from NAPA). I got my parts from all over the place and I have posted on this pretty thoroughly so maybe I could just get a concise list together... You can PM me anytime and I'll get you started. Getting the parts is the worst part, but they ARE available.

[zeeboost]

Haha, no I just need to get the heater parts installed first so I can have the car driveable by this weekend, although it would be nice to complete the a/c by then too. I'll search your posts and see if I can find where you got the parts from. And you're right, parts availability is the worst - I should've been done with this a long time ago.