Adding A/C to Manta.

[Aardvaark]

Actually, if you use an R12 compressor you'll only need to change the oil and not the shaft seal according to sandens retrofit proceedure. untitled

BTW.
Two years ago I converted my 44 year old 1963 Thunderbird's factory air that uses a big old York compressor to R134A and only changed the oil and reciever/dryer to R134A after a good flush of the system with compressed air.
The hoses appear to be originals that use compression fittings and no rubber o-rings. So far it still works great with no apparent loss of refrigerant. Whatever does migrate through the hoses and compressor seal seems to be very slight. This is the same experience I've heard from other friends who do a/c work.

[Aardvaark]

Welp, this afternoon I wrapped up the installation of this new AC system on my '75 Manta. Charged the system and took it for a road test. This is my first
experience with the small 7 piston Sanden compressor and I must say, I'm
impressed. It's very smooth in operation and hardly effects the idle when the
clutch engages. I'm mentally comparing it to the ARA system with the small
York compressor I put on my new 1973 Manta Luxus. Compressor design has come a long way. It's as seamless in operation as the one on my 2002 Honda
Odyssey. This setup really puts out the cold air too. On the two lower fan speeds the only thing I could hear is the rush of air. On the high speed fan, then the blower becomes audible. Can't wait for hot weather to return for
a real test. A few stats and wrap up pics below. Total cost with my labor,
except for hose end fitting bubble crimping came to a little less then $1200.

Pics:
-evap connections
-rear floor hose routing
-dash controls panel below radio
-service gauges connections (actually easier to work on then it looks)
-receiver/drier/binary safety switch

[BQS4]

One thing you're going to have to do during the winter is to every now and then run the a/c to keep the various seals and all oiled and sealing. Modern a/c system have been changed so that when using the heater, it will turn on the a/c compressor to keep the oil running through the system. The thing that killed the old a/c systems was non use during the winter and seals dried up, thus losing charge and burning up the system.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by BQS4 One thing you're going to have to do during the winter is to every now and then run the a/c to keep the various seals and all oiled and sealing. Modern a/c system have been changed so that when using the heater, it will turn on the a/c compressor to keep the oil running through the system. The thing that killed the old a/c systems was non use during the winter and seals dried up, thus losing charge and burning up the system.

Yup. That's what I've always done with my cars. I start my '63 T-bird and run it's ac for about five min every 14 days or so. Plan to do the same with
the Manta. Good practice.

[Aardvaark]

A couple of refinements to my system after driving around enjoying
the cool comfort this summer.
1. A vacuum cutout for the compressor clutch to gain back a slight
loss of performance under hard accelaration. Set to cut in at about
half throttle. Still playing with it. The GM system used one I think.

2. Auxillary radiator. In above 90F temps the cooling system would
climb to above 3/4 on the guage. Now it stays around 1/2 except after a
long time idling in really hot weather with the AC running when it climes
to around 3/4 on the temp guage.

[tomking]

Mark my Manta has the vacuum cut out switch and a hi-low freon pressure switch. I presume the dealer installed the AC but no way to be sure. And it is the ARA system. FYI.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by tomking Mark my Manta has the vacuum cut out switch and a hi-low freon pressure switch. I presume the dealer installed the AC but no way to be sure. And it is the ARA system. FYI.

Thanks Tom.
I was pretty sure the GM system and ARA system had the cutout. The AMC system from Australia I installed on my first Manta didn't have the cutout switch so I bought one of those aftermarket 'Pass Masters' cutouts they used to sell in the JC Whitney cat. back then.