SR-71

Long ago, I replaced the R12 in my A/C to R134a. It works OK, but not as cold as with R12, of course. And now the components have gotten old enough that all the externals, including the hoses, need to be replaced. It won't hold the refrigerant long-term.

To make the A/C really cold, it needs compressor, evaporator, and condensor made for R134a.

I'm sure I can adapt a 4th-gen compressor and condensor to fit into my '88 'Bird. But what I'm not clear about is the evaporator core. My searches have turned up a bunch of guys putting 4th-gen dashes and the internal airboxes in their 3rd-gens. But I'm not doing that. I'm keeping my dash and airbox setup.

Can I fit the 4th-gen evaporator core in my 3rd-gen's evaporator core box (at the right rear of the engine compartment)? I guess the main question is, how do they compare for size?

87CIZ

iTrader: (8)

check out this link this guy did it, but he hasn't tested as of yet since its december lol https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...cs-my-ls1.html

SR-71

Thanks a bunch for that link. I did several searches before I posted, and never came up with it.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

Yup thats my car. As 87CIZ said, I havent tested it yet. The box is sealed well. Im not getting any leakage from the blower motor air flow. I see no reason why it wont work. I might have to do a little more sealing around the evap inside that box...just so ALL the blower air moves through the evap and not around it.

I have a friend with a vac. pump and some r134a and manifolds to charge the system. He has done his RV a/c system, and countless other cars, so Im gonna give that a go first. See if it leaks atleast. I have one of those UV leak detectors that I was using on my other cars to find leaks.

All I know is the 99 Z28 that I used for a donar car had cold A/C. I drove it from the storage shed to my house with the top down and the A/C blowing one of the hot days. It was ice cold. MUCH MUCH cooler than my 87 system which didnt work for crap.

Good luck and feel free to ask questions!! Just post them in the thread that 87CIZ linked you to.

Justin