June 23, 20222 yr comment_641729 Forgot to mention the spec of the elbow, B-F6500-06-06 BRASS 3/8" MALE FLARE x 3/8" FEMALE FLARE. 90 DEGREE FITTING, got it from rnlhydraulics on ebay. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-641729 Share on other sites More sharing options...
June 24, 20222 yr Author comment_641756 I think I found the leak, hopefully the only place. It is actually the schrader valve on the low input. It leak so slow that I overlooked last time I did the soap test. Instead of soap water, I just fill the valve with water and patiently wait for more than 5 minutes with laser eye fixated on the valve. The leak is about one tiny bubble about the toothpick per 5 or so minutes. I recheck it every 5 minutes or so and there it was, another bubble. How do you go about fixing this with the refrigerant still full? I put a cap with the o-ring in it already and hopefully good enough for now. regards Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-641756 Share on other sites More sharing options...
June 24, 20222 yr Author comment_641757 this might be the solution for me, for now https://www.autozone.com/cooling-heating-and-climate-control/a-c-service-valve-cap/p/dorman-a-c-service-valve-cap-902-025/825033_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:8062087320&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_oeZ9LfG-AIViT-tBh1ULAfREAQYAiABEgLcqvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-641757 Share on other sites More sharing options...
June 24, 20222 yr comment_641758 27 minutes ago, 240zadmire said: I think I found the leak, hopefully the only place. It is actually the schrader valve on the low input. It leak so slow that I overlooked last time I did the soap test. Instead of soap water, I just fill the valve with water and patiently wait for more than 5 minutes with laser eye fixated on the valve. The leak is about one tiny bubble about the toothpick per 5 or so minutes. I recheck it every 5 minutes or so and there it was, another bubble. How do you go about fixing this with the refrigerant still full? I put a cap with the o-ring in it already and hopefully good enough for now. regards I thought it didn't exist, but I just searched. It exists! This allows schrader valve replacement without losing charge. https://www.amazon.com/MASTERCOOL-81490-R134a-Remover-Installer/dp/B000KITSMI Of course, this is for 134A service ports. I'm not sure if one exists for R12. Edited June 24, 20222 yr by SteveJ Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-641758 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 15, 20222 yr Author comment_645414 Well, it was good for couple of months. Found 2 other leaks. One is on the back side of the compressor. This will need a big o-ring and disassemble the compressor to fix. The other is at the condenser. Must have been a giant bee with a steel stinger that poked a hole. have anyone try the Red Angel A/C seal? What about using MAP gas to blaze the leak at the condenser? regards Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-645414 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 16, 20222 yr comment_645438 I know practically nothing about A/C, but I have two thoughts: First is about the leak seal... I don't know any mechanic ever who has even remotely liked any of the sealing additives in anything. Tires, radiator, A/C. Anything. Ever. In fact, my local pro says he won't even evacuate a system if he's told that it has some sort of leak stop in it. Won't put his machine on it. Second thought is about brazing the leak in the condenser. Again, I'm no expert, but there's no way I would try that while the system had refrigerant in it. The pressure will just blow the braze material away from the hole, and even more importantly, you absolutely do not want to light anything fluorocarbon on fire. Bad idea. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-645438 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 16, 20222 yr Author comment_645439 I’m more inclined to do the brazing. But who knows, some one on this forum might have a very good result with sealing too. I need to do more research, by research, I mean watch more YouTube, to learn how to braze. Of course it will be off the car or at lease zero pressure before I do it. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-645439 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 16, 20222 yr comment_645471 I would second not using a sealer, but I have no experience with it either. IIRC its alum so maybe one of the alum braze rods would be the ticket. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-645471 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 16, 20222 yr comment_645472 Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-645472 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 26, 20231 yr comment_657488 On 9/15/2022 at 11:45 PM, 240zadmire said: I’m more inclined to do the brazing. But who knows, some one on this forum might have a very good result with sealing too. I need to do more research, by research, I mean watch more YouTube, to learn how to braze. Of course it will be off the car or at lease zero pressure before I do it. There's no way you will successfully braze an aluminum tube in an AC condenser. The age of the material and the thickness will just create additional holes. Just buy a new condenser. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/64339-1977-280z-ac-issue-xx-of-yy/?&page=5#findComment-657488 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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