Air conditioning replacement

[AGT]

My 280 has a non functioning Frigiking air con system. I would like to keep the Frigiking  underdash unit and replace everything else including the innards of the underdash unit. My thought was to buy the complete Bud's Benz kit, which seems reasonably priced, and use as much of it as possible to replace the existing system. I don't want to fit the Bud's Benz underdash unit - no offence guys. Is this a crazy idea? Can the blower and other innards from the Bud's Benz underdash unit be squeezed into the Frigiking? Am I better to do a component by component repair/replace job? Advice gratefully appreciated.
Regards
Andrew

[George Davis]

Andrew,

I wouldn't recommend the kit from Bud's Benz.  Lots of money for many parts that you won't use.  I believe you can upgrade your compressor easily to a rotary type with an adapter bracket, and several members have had success modifying their Frigiking underdash units with stronger blower motors and internal mods to get better air distribution.  This was discussed a lot earlier this summer, do some searches on air conditioner and similar and you'll probably learn all you need.  You might also look into a more efficient condenser, also discussed here.  I'd guess you can get the system working for significantly less than the price of the BB kit.

Good luck!

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[AGT]

George

Thank you for your advice in response to my query. I spent some time today poking about the air conditioning components with the technician who has inherited this fantastic job. Although it is hard to think air conditioning when the air temperature is below freezing, we agreed to follow your advice and try to repair/replace and convert to R-134. The Bud's kit with shipping and UK taxes would have been well over US$2,000.

We think that my 1969 car (originally delivered to California) has a "standard" dealer fit Frigiking system. I am assuming this was a dealer fit as it is not on the data card. I am therefore hopeful that the work required will be similar to that carried out by other members and reported on this forum.

I had read through your detailed and helpful posts on this topic but will do so again and assemble a list of components. We think that it might be best to try to import condensor, compressor and blower from the USA as even with global warming the market for retro fit air conditioning components in Scotland is pretty limited!

Thanks again
Regards
Andrew

[George Davis]

Andrew,

you're welcome!  You've probably seen this already but I'll post this link anyway, directly applicable to your situation:

http://index.php?topic=4480

Good luck with it!


George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[AGT]

George and others

I am trying to put together my shopping list for replacement a/c parts as part of my repair and conversion to R134a project and should be grateful for any assistance in identifying specific components and suppliers.

Compressor - the advice on the forum seems to be to replace my defunct York compressor with a Sanden 508. However, Sanden has introduced the SD5H14 as the R134a successor to the SD508 and there are 24 different models. Has anyone installed a SD5H14 who could help me with the code - four digits beginning 45**? Alternatively, Sanden can cross reference the SD5H14 against a model designation for the 508 if anyone can identify a number for the 508.

Mounting bracket - can anyone advise where I could obtain a York to Sanden mounting bracket? I have drawn a blank in the UK and am willing to import from the USA.

Condensor - George has recommended a parallel flow condensor. Space is tight and there is a reference on the forum to a parallel flow made by Frigette which fits. I have been unable to find Frigette condensors on the internet. Can anyone recommend a make and model of parallel condensor which will fit?

Receiver/drier and evaporator - these components don't seem as space critical. Does anyone have any specific recommendations?

Blower - the only parts of my a/c system that work are the blower and the blue light on the Frigiking. There are a number of references on the forum to replacing the blower with a SPAL blower. Can anyone advise me of a model number for this blower? In the UK SPAL don't seem to do automotive a/c components.

Apologies for the long list of questions. Very few of the UK pagodas have air conditioning and therefore there is not the same knowledge of the a/c systems as in the USA or availability of components.

Many thanks
Regards
Andrew

[George Des]

Andrew,

The web sites I list below should give you a pretty good idea of what is out there. The Sanden 508 is pretty much a staple of the industry. As you might figure out, it pays to shop around because prices can vary quite a bit-- I believe I paid about $199.00 for mine. I did not need a conversion bracket since I made a top mount bracket similar to the Bud's Benz type bracket. This totally does away with the massive bracket that MB dealerships used when they installed the York compressor with the Frigiking or Kuhlmeister units. The parallel flow condensers are fairly generic so don't get hung up on a Frigette brand. You'll have to figure out the best size for your application, but be forwarned that the biggest that will fit isn't always the best. I'm still sorting this out on my own car since I did install the biggest and now I believe it blocks too much of the air flow through the radiator causing my engine tempaerture to rise more than I like. I have a smaller condenser that I will try out after the winter to see how much of a difference it makes both in cooling and the engine temp. The Spal blower is a great improvement in terms of CFM. If you do a search on this site, I believe The Engineerprovided me with the correct Spal item number. You should be able to order it on-line--I did. I can't find the paperwork to help you out on the item number and the unit is now installed in the car.. With the FrigiKing evaporator box, the Spal blower fits right up. With the Kuhlmeister you have to move the condensation leak off pipe to allow the blower to fit right. You can see this on one of my posts where I described how I had to do that on my own installation. The receiver/dryer I used is a generic brand but it does allow for a screw-in high-low pressure cut-off switch which you really need to use so you don't inadvertently blow the compressor if your pressures run too high or you run low on refrigerant. You should also change out the expansion valve--this is another generic part available through many of the on-line A/C sources. I did not change out my evaporator. If you go this route you will also need to get a few interface fittings to allow connection of the o-ring type fittings to the evaporator. All the parallel flow condensers use these new fiitings because they can handle the higher pressures of the R134A better tahn the old type fittings. I replaced all my hoses with the new barrier hose designed specifically for R134A. I also ended up buying a hose-fitting crimper because I ended up having to custom cut each hose. The tool I bought--not cheap---allowed me to do this while the hoses were in the car. You may be able to pick up some of this stuff on e-bay if you look around--especially the compressors and the brackets. And do a search of this website. A few of us have gone through this in the past and discussed it back and forth with one another not too long ago. Good luck

George Des


http://www.apairinc.com/detail.asp?Part=995-309
http://www.spal-usa.com/
http://www.airpartsonline.com/default.tpl
http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/1345/
http://www.streetrodgarage.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=250

[George Des]

Andrew

Check these out on e-bay. Also plenty of posts on the 508's

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/York-to-Sanden-conversion-bracket_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33543QQitemZ8023232950QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

George Des

[AGT]

George

Thank you for the advice and links. This is very helpful and it was kind of you to take the trouble to reply in detail.

Regards
Andrew

[AGT]

We have got stuck on my air conditioning replacement project and I am posting to ask for further help.

My car has the FrigiKing underdash unit which I wanted to keep and the system was charged with R-12. Nothing appeared to work other than a feeble puff from the blower and we decided to repair/renew and convert to R-134a. On removal we have found the components to be choked with emulsified gunk and have decided to replace everything other than the fascia of the FrigiKing.

We have obtained new compressor, mounting bracket, bracket to put the alternator back where it started, condensor and blower. Where we have got stuck is with the evaporator core which is custom fit to the FrigiKing evaporator case but no longer available. It looks like the only option is to rebuild the evaporator case with a new core/expansion valve. Has anyone on the forum done this?

Air con components are hard to find in Scotland and we certainly don't have any auto air con workshops. Can anyone recommend a workshop which may be able to rebuild the contents of the evaporator case? I am willing to send the unit to the USA to have this work done - cost has ceased to be an issue; it is now a matter of principle! I have tried Vintageair without success to date.

Regards
Andrew

[n/a]

I have been told by an old freind that Star refrigeration mailto:technical@star-ref.co.uk  0141 638 7916 in Glasgow have the ability to make any refrig or ac item to your specs.

I do not know how true this is as the guy was a bit of a "blawhard"

Liam

Still looking for a Pagoda, in no hurry. I can't beleive there has actually been a post that I can offer something to, one day I will be a more productive member but until then I will build up my knowledge by checking daily what you masters know

[AGT]

Liam

Thanks for the suggestion. I think that these are the guys who evacuated and disposed of the R-12 in my car's system. Stef at Merparts who has done quite a lot of retro fit on 80s Mercs had not dealt with them as fabricators.

I am following up on an off line recommendation of Jerry West of European Cooler Air. He is not quite so local but seems able and very willing to help.

Good luck with the Pagoda hunt. I found the UK to be a really tough market. Lots of rust, some dodgy restorations and sky high prices. If you can live with LHD, go shopping in the USA. That said, I still bought a "bad" one.

Regards
Andrew