Turbinator

Gents, The hold down brackets can be fashioned from water hose clamps. No need to spend any money Needlessly, a cable of sorts has be around some place. I’m getting ready to make up a bunch of these turn signal cables with all the fittings. Many talk about the need I figure I can make them and sell them at an attractive price and even make a profit to pay for my AC parts. Joking aside I’ve seen folks in the past make /repair parts to do a job that works. Turbinator

Sir, I could use one of those turn signal cables, even it is in pieces. I need all the pieces, please. Send all the pieces for free and btw, postage is free. Turbinator 1604 Broadway Rd Lutherville MD 21093-1507

Tom, my problem was determining if my 55 year old AC hoses were in good shape. Since I was replacing everything new I decided to not “ half-step” and err on the side of overkill.So had all the hoses rebuilt at a cost that got my attention. Having taken the evaporator box in and out 3 times I was NOT taking any chances with leaks. Yes, I know to some it would be embarrassing to admit to taking the evaporator in and out 3 times. When you are learning something really new you might make mistakes. I carried on, got some first class mechanical help on the job and got cold air. Persistence and resilience has taken me further along than my skills that is for sure. What person in their right mind would have tried for 3 AC seasons to get their AC working in a car they drive a 1000 miles a year?

Ed, amazing what power driven mechanical things do. Never ceases to amaze me. Bob

Mr Konga Man, have the gauges so you can see them showing the readings on the high and low side.’ Have the gauge readings recorded for driving on the highway, slow city traffic, and sitting in a traffic jam would be three situations the readings could be recorded. Of course, the readings would have to interpreted for each case. ‘I would not have used the STV update widget had I not had so much trouble with the piston sticking in the rebuilt STV’s. Now, since I have the STV widget and cold air I do not notice the compressor engaging or disengaging. Heck, maybe the STV widget isn’t working at all? I do have plenty cold air for 88-93 F temps while going down the highway. I guess I just have to keep moving. As far as the clutch fan is concerned I’ve read a severe duty clutch fan stays engaged 80% of the time as opposed to much less time engaged with the stock clutch fan. If I have more air coming through the condenser at very low speed and stop and go traffic would not the gas shed heat faster and return to a liquid that goes to the evaporator where I get cold air? I’m just guessing at the science of the thing. I’ve found if you know how stuff works hopefully your diagnostics would improve improve. Turbinator

Gents, new water pump, new timing chain cover, no leaks seems like what is suppose to be tight is tight. i don’t know why the AC air is much cooler/ colder when driving on a highway. I sit still in traffic and the cold air goes to warmer air. I don’t think the AC was intentionally designed to kick out warmer air fromthe AC. It seems something is not quite right. My gauges had different readings than Tom Telesco’s gauges. Actually, I don’t know whaT gauges are accurate. The price points are all over the map for AC gauges. I would suppose Robinair would have decent gauges. Turbinator

July 18 2019 93 F with humidity very high. I tested the AC in my 63 Buick Riviera by driving the car and using the AC. I was very comfortable riding on the two way county roads in central Maryland. I stopped for about 15 minutes to show one of my friends I had real AC. After 10 or so minutes the level cool air diminished. The amount of air was fine, it just wasn’t as cold as when I was driving. i did not test the AC air temp with a thermometer. I tested the AC by how I felt. I’m not going to do any more “fixing” to the AC until I break it. I’m leaving the AC system alone. I will put on a vacuum tank and I might put on a severe duty clutch fan or maybe an electric fan . The purpose of the fan would be to pull more air past the condenser. For all that matter this is a wrap. Many thanks to all that joined in to help me get cold air. Turbinator

Probably would have blew up! Turb

PWB, depends on who you ask. 3.5 lbs is embossed on my compressor. The 1963 Buick service says 3.5 lbs for the Model 4700. Those mechs in the know say about 4 lbs plus.

Jim, one item I found not s big deal was AC specialty shops in Baltimore had R12 Freon on hand AND the recovery machinery. I found a small AC / Radiator specialty shop in York PA, 40 miles North, that had the R12 and recovery machines. I had no luck with those shops interested in diagnosing my AC problem(s). I checked with a muscle car restoration shop on the DELMARVA peninsula and the owner said he would do R12 AC full restoration. He said he charged $70.00 an hour. I asked him how many minutes were in his shop hour. The gent failed to understand the well intended humor. Turbinator

Don’t be surprised when some , not all the straps break. The straps bend ONCE. The second time you bend them they snap. Turbinator

I watched a gent in Maryland buy 66 lbs of virgin R12 for $500.00 The R12 was tested for purity. Turbinator

I had my hoses rebuilt with triple wall barrier hoses (134a spec) when I replaced all the components in my 1963 Buick Riviera. I still use R12. I still used the factory metal fittings shown in the picture. No leaks in the hoses or factory fitting. In the beginning I had major difficulty getting my AC to work because I have no experience In air conditioning, so I replaced all the components. The AC works pretty good now. Turbinator

TexRiv, I read all three pages of your installation in the Monaco station wagon. I took some notes regarding method approach to making a repair. Your sketch was well done and certainly a method I can use. The engine bay, new paint looks great. I’m happy to learn of your “chilling” success! My Riv is cooking me very well. The all new AC components and STV update switch I believe made the difference. Getting the original evaporator box reinstalled under the dash with new barrier hoses was r e a l hard. At the very end I had a blockage which was too much oil in the AC muffler. With all the evacuating I did I neglected to evacuate the AC muffler. My thinking about a muffler was out of context with an AC application. I was totally stumped why my R12 would not charge. Bottom line/ Tom Telesco came in from Norwalk CT to finish the install. A couple of add on items like a vacuum tank and severe duty clutch fan will hopefully improve performance in bumper to bumper traffic and when I accelerate enough to merit the extra expense. The work I can do myself. Thank you for your support over the years. Bob Burnopp

Tim, I was just remembering my poor manners and I did not ask to see your Riviera. I apologize for my self centered behavior and will certainly extend an apology. Bob

Tim, after all it is your “chariot” drive it looking any way you like. Your subject matter was interesting. I enjoyed reading all the comments. It was a pleasure to meet you at ROA meet in Gettysburg. Turbinator

Zimm, R&M on the shore told me they handle what you need. I’ve never dealt with them, but that is what they told me. Secondly, using the recovery equipment requires genuine know how. You could hurt yourself big time if you are not careful.

Not a problem if you are willing to look. A friend just got 66 lbs tested pure R12 for $500.00. No joke I witnessed the transaction. Turbinator PS as much aggravation I’ve had with my AC I should buy stock in the companies that make the stuff.

Sir, you are fortunate to know these facts. I applaud your good sense. I would whole heartedly encourage you to do your due diligence when hiring a shop or person to make sure they know what they are doing. I suspect some shops in hotter areas of the country have experience with this type of work. Had I known what I know now I would have given an after market AC serious consideration. I’m not a purist in my restoration efforts. For instance I run radial tires, zBilstein shocks, custom exhaust, but everything else is a replacement for what came with the car. Thank you Bob

Jim, the condenser is new. Hopefully it is working correctly. i do have a fan for the functional testing as outlined in Service Manual. I do the test you have described. i have read about charging and watching the sight glass. Tom Telesco was heading up this rodeo so I watched and kept quiet. I deferred to Tom’s experience and “ art” part of AC mechanics. After all it was me that talked Tom into the long drive to Lutherville to help. We did feed Tom pretty good and his room and bath were not bad. I am considering the severe duty fan clutch in hopes of drawing more air over the evaporator. Traffic jams in Baltimore/DC corridor I believe rank some place as the worst for driving. The middle vent adjustment was a piece of cake to get air flowing. I have a lead on some very inexpensive 14 Oz cans of R12. Think I’ll load up. Turbinator

Sir, in the event you do ground your metal tail light bulb sockets. Fan out the copper wire strands and solder to the metal bulb socket. Ground that wire to the car body. works real good. As TelRiv mentioned one the filaments in the bulb could be burned out. Turbinator

Old School ( old men like me) low riders know what you have. They may not have the skills to bring it together, but they probably have the $$$$ for restoration shop to put it on the road. My guess is the older guys are your best suspects to turn into prospects. Good Luck Turbinator

The correct amount of Freon charge is determined by what is shown in the 1963 Buick Service Manual sec 11 AC. The ambient temp is the bench mark for beginning of what the high and low side should read. Some charge with the gas until the bubbles go away in the sight glass, then add about 6 Oz more. Seems to me 63 Riviera AC is an art as well as a science. Admittedly, I have been consulting a lady that practices Voo Doo in hopes of getting some luck. She sent an amulet in the mail I put the amulet around the compressor. Turbinator

Yes, I still read the mobile AC manuals I have. Science class. The more you know how the thing works the better chance you have of beginning your diagnostics. I could not get R12 to go into the system. The short- Tom Telesco checked each connection under the hood starting at the condenser to see if he had pressure. At the connection near the AC muffler no pressure. Come to find the blockage was too much oil from previous efforts in the AC muffler! Tom drained the oil out of the muffler. The AC took a charge. I have cold air, but not quite cold enough. 42 F is the coldest I’ve had. Tom T and I have a plan over the next few weeks to check for leaks. Also the system may be overcharged. We will see. Turbinator

Understood. turbinator