A/C woes. Help!

[TurboJoeD.]

Ok, so I had plans to completely rebuild the a/c system this weekend. I looked at the conversion system from late model, but decided to pass, since the sales guy couldn't tell me if it was different from what I would get from the parts store. Looking back at it, after doing some research now, wish I would have gone that route, especially since I had a cowl hood on the way and wouldn't have had to pay for shipping.

I didn't want to mess with the existing evaporator. I already had a new condensor. I bought everything else to go on this weekend. I purchased a all new hoses and a new (not remanned) compressor. Only to find out that I purchased a compressor for dealer ad on ac, not factory a/c. I hit the computer again only to find out that no parts stores carry a new compressor that would work. Found a rebuilt unit 40miles away. So I booked it. Got back, just to find out that wasn't the right part either. Looked it up again. Found another part number this time 20 miles away--only to find the same wrong compressor.
Am I missing something? It shouldn't be that hard to find an ac compressor for a 93 mustang.

Since totally failing this weekend, I have been doing some research here and there.
I guess my questions are:

What compressor should I be looking for? 6p148a?

Should I just scrap all of this, return my parts and order the hosewizard/latemodel kit? That is the hose wizard's kit, right? Is it going to be that much better?

What exactly is different in that kit and what I have? Same hoses, same condensor, different compressor only, or more to it than that?

I have found that they use a sanden sd7h15 compressor. Could I just order this compressor, if I can find it, and use it with the parts that I already have? Or are there some brackets included in the kit to make the compressor fit?

Thanks in advance.

 

[time only]

The kit from 5.0 Resto is using the R134 and the stock Mustang A/C( Pre 93's ? ) is using the R12 which is getting very expensive and not available over the counter to the general public. The R134 and R12 system used seals etc makes from different material and all the other rocket science stuff.

And I was told the parts used in the two systems should not be interchange if you don't want early system failure.

That is the system I am looking at right now as putting together a whole A/C system from the ground up will cost about the same,unless you have souces to lots of cheap used parts etc.etc.

 

[TurboJoeD.]

I know the difference between r12 and 134a. And that is not what I am asking.
And I spent about $400 for all new lines, accumulator and rebuilt compressor--depending on the compressor. Compared to the $700 for the late model system. So they aren't the same price.

Thanks for trying to help though.

 

[mkk50]

I would also like to know if that compressor could be purchased and made to work outside that kit. I believe that there are brackets included in the kit. My car is converted to r134a and it blows cool, but not cold.

 

[TurboJoeD.]

anybody??

 

[FastDriver]

I am currently going through this process myself trying to get the a/c hoses routed around my turbo stuff. If you don't know by the weekend, I'll get an A/C compressor part # and brand for you.

Chris

 

[trbkrb]

I went through the same thing last year. Bought new hoses and planned to flush my system, ended up having a busted condenser. Got a new condenser and then my previously good used compressor locked up! So I had to get a new one. I got a new Motorcraft one from O'Reilly Auto Parts - Home at my local Oreilly store. It was the 6P148A model for factory air. The Sd709 compressor is for dealer ac. Went ahead and replace the evaporator too since I was doing the heater core too. so now I have a complete new system for about $600.

Don't know if this link will work, but here they are. Rebuilt on this page, new on the next: O'Reilly Auto Parts - Results for Shopping Search

 

[FastDriver]

trbkrb, does your car still look that nice with 300k on it?

 

[TurboJoeD.]

Don't know if this link will work, but here they are. Rebuilt on this page, new on the next: O'Reilly Auto Parts - Results for Shopping Search

I'm a little confused. The link you sent was to page 8. There are no compressors on that page. The compressors are on page 7. It offers 2 Motorcraft compressors. yc153 is the dealer add on. yc35, I think is the right compressor, but its 277.99--but comes without a clutch-which is another like 130.00 and you need a special tool to install. I only know that because that is the compressor that I originally ordered. This was the way that I looked them up too. Maybe my cookies are messing with the link that you posted, I don't know. And I never saw the part number 6p148a.

 

[trbkrb]

I bet it did mess up the sort order. I sorted it by price, the reman compressors were on pg 8, the new ones on pg 9. It is the YC35 one for factory air, it is also the same as 6p148a. I got mine at a discount for about $230 through our Mustang club. Is your old clutch still OK? I just reused mine. The only special tools needed were deep snap ring plyers and possibly a puller, which my local place rents out for a refundable deposit. I have a snap ring plyer set and did not need a puller since mine came off pretty easily with just some prying.

trbkrb, does your car still look that nice with 300k on it?

That pic was taken a couple of years ago. It needs a paint job, the fender edges are down to bare metal and primer, and some on the roof. But it is not too bad for staying outside during the weekdays for 21+ years in the Houston weather. Car still looked very good until about 5 years ago when the paint got too thin and started flaking off! If I compound and polish it up, the remaining paint still looks good!

 

[FastDriver]

Even if that car is still as straight as it is in that picture, that's damned impressive for a 300k car. Keep her on the road, man. Another paint job and she'll be shining like new again.

Chris

 

[TurboJoeD.]

trbkrb,
Thanks for the help. How does your a/c work. Cool, or cold? I have had no a/c since I put the car together. The compressor is there, but I have no idea of when the last time it worked. So I feel like it would be a gamble to reuse the clutch.
The more I read about the late model/hose wizard conversion, the more I lean that way. So I have removed the lines that I bought and I think I am going to return them and order the kit.
Again, thanks for your help.

BTW, what part of town are you located? I'm in the Houston area too.

 

[trbkrb]

I'm in NW Houston, beltway & 290, work by downtown. I have a 94 condenser I shoehorned into the front looking for better cooling, and it works OK in the heat when the car is moving. Cool, but not cold during the heat of the day, but way better than the no AC I had for 4 years. During the morning and evening it will freeze you out! Sitting still or in heavy traffic the car heats up with the AC on, getting up in the top 1/4 of the gauge until I get going again. But I think I need a new clutch fan. That should take care of the overheating.

Are you on Westside Mustangs ? If not, there is a LOT of local guys with a lot of info and help available. That's where I got the club discount from Oreilly's. Come check us out.