Rebuilding an AC System

[MM569457]

Good Evening,

I am currently hot and perturbed in Texas. my 1977 280Z doesn't have AC, (all under hood components except copper fittings have been removed). I still have the heater core and evaporator installed under the dash.

I'd like a sanity check, I'd like to install a new condenser, dryer, and compressor under the hood.  Air Conditioning A/C R134A Kit 260Z 280Z 74-78 | Z Car Depot Inc appears to have all the underhood components. As the car was R12, I'd convert it to r134. I know I'd have to sanitize the evaporator from all R12 oils and residue. Expansion valves are non-existent, and I'd be making a gamble going this route when adding 80% r134 into the system.

Am I missing anything, or would it be better to replace my evaporator with a vintage air at this point? 

I did manage to remove the copper fittings this evening.

Thanks in advance!

[Dave WM]

If you are going that far I would replace the evap since they are available (for now). IIRC it comes with a modernish expansion valve which is a good thing.

I presume the under hood kit has the right condenser to work with R134. I looks like a PF condenser. I seem to recall two aftermarket evaps out there, one was all alum and the other looked to be copper wit alum fins. I think all alum would be better for performance since the orig was that way.

Edited September 23 by Dave WM

[EuroDat]

I like the Sanden compressor in their kit. It looks visually close to the original Hitachi compressor. The mounting bracket though looks big and cumbersome compared to my original hitachi bracket.

If you are spending all the money on the kit for the engine bay, then I would also go the extra for a new evapourator.