Air Conditioning for older vehicles.

I have a 1964 Chrysler New Yorker with factory air. It barely worked a year ago when I first got the car. Doesn't work now, probably needs recharging. Are there substitutes for the old refrigerant? Can I have it tested for leaks without charging it up. What is the best way to go to get it going, as we do have hot days in Denver? [color:\\"black\\"]

The only refrigerants you should consider are either R-12 (factory fill) or a conversion to R-134A ( the new stuff)

Conversions typically require flushing the old oil, replacing the reciever-drier and installing adapter fittings. I have a friend who owns a shop who just charged his R-12 system with the R-134A over a year ago and it is still working, although this is not the recommended method for longevity.

Costs of retrofit vary by shop, best to use someone you trust, you get what you pay for.

The system can be vacuum checked for leakdown but as far as accuracy in finding a leak nothing beats tracer dye put into the system along with at least a partial charge of refrigerant and running the system for a day or two. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />