1964 Corvette Coupe w Factory Air - Needs Recharging

[George B.]

Owner of 1964 Corvette C2 with Factory Air Conditioning. When car was in shop, a hose from A/C compressor was removed (to repair a hose below) and Freon gas (?) drained from compressor.

Couple questions; What is required to recharge the A/C compressor? and since it's fall, A/C is not necessary. If wait till spring to recharge A/C will any damage be done to the compressor?

Thank you,

GB C2

[James W.]

Re: 1964 Corvette Coupe w Factory Air - Needs Recharging

I would have the system leaked checked. If the leaked check is successful, I would then have it recharged now.

Owner of 1964 Corvette C2 with Factory Air Conditioning. When car was in shop, a hose from A/C compressor was removed (to repair a hose below) and Freon gas (?) drained from compressor.

Couple questions; What is required to recharge the A/C compressor? and since it's fall, A/C is not necessary. If wait till spring to recharge A/C will any damage be done to the compressor?

Thank you,

GB C2

[Stephen L.]

Re: 1964 Corvette Coupe w Factory Air - Needs Recharging

As long as the system is empty, I would check the system for potential leaks by filling the system temporarily, with dried compressed air and monitoring that pressure for a week or so.... If the pressure remains stable (indicating no leaks) then perform a "recharge" with freon, etc.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1964 Corvette Coupe w Factory Air - Needs Recharging

Owner of 1964 Corvette C2 with Factory Air Conditioning. When car was in shop, a hose from A/C compressor was removed (to repair a hose below) and Freon gas (?) drained from compressor.

Couple questions; What is required to recharge the A/C compressor? and since it's fall, A/C is not necessary. If wait till spring to recharge A/C will any damage be done to the compressor?
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Thank you,

GB C2

Is this your car? The first thing you need to understand is the type of "freon" used. Is it the original R12 or has it been converted to the more recent R-134a. Any shop that services A/C systems can tell you in an instant because the two refrigerants have different size service fittings.

Once you know what the correct refrigerant is then you have it serviced. A knowledgeable shop will use a vacuum pump to pull a high vacuum in the system, like 28-29" Hg and watch it for at least 30 minutes to see if it holds. If does they will recharge the system and use a gas analyzer to check for leaks, and if it passes, you're good to go.

The problem you may likely have if the system is R12 is that very few shops can service R12 systems because new cars have not used R12 for about 30 years. If not they will "recommend" you convert to R134a. Reject this and keep looking. There are shops that cater to vintage cars and can service R12 systems, and the last time I checked R12 is actually cheaper than R-134a.

So tell us what the proper refrigerant is, and we'll go from there.

Duke

[Tom L.]

Re: 1964 Corvette Coupe w Factory Air - Needs Recharging

Can't speak to systems specific to 1964 but to retrofit my '72 I had to have my POA valve re-calibrated fior 134a and all the o-ring seals needed to be changed since the old seals may not be compatable with modern oils. You should see if any changes like this are needed.

As far as the fittings go... absence of the different fittings TYPICALLY used on automotive systems are NOT necessary. My system which has been properly converted to 134a but still uses the old 1/4" flare access ports. The 134a access ports simply screw onto the 1/4" port. The adapters are mostly for auto techs to identify which gas is in the vehicle.

If you don't have the port adapters for 134a you can tell if it's 12 or 134a by using a Halide torch (an old leack detecting tool used for chloronated refrigerants which 134a is not) An old school guy like myself will have one buried somewhere in his tool box. When 12 is exposed to the flame it will burn bright blue, 134a will not.

One last thing, don't switch from 12 to 134a due to cost. My cost on a 30lb cylinder has more than trippled in the last few years and that will liklely get worse in 2025 forward. 134a is being phased out similar to how 12 was. Installations of new equipment using 134a will not be legal beginning January 1st and manufacturing restrictions on new refrigerant will begin next year as well. Good times...