Well, I'm halfway there....I have an air compressor already, as well as the Freon and the can tap...$14 for the vacuum pump at Harbor freight, and all I need is the gauges.

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1983 300D - 314,640 miles (not all by me) - Daily Driver --Sold--
1983 300d - 215,000 miles (approximately)

For $14 I assume that you are talking about a venturi vaccum pump. Unless you have SERIOUS compressor, it will not get the job done. As long as you have something like a 5HP two stage compressor it might work well enough.

A compressor salvaged from an old refrigerator makes one of the best, albeit least stylish, vacuum pumps that you can use.

Take my advice and skip the venturi vacuum pump. It's impossible to pull enough vacuum to boil off the water.

Go to Autozone or equivalent and get a real vacuum pump from their tool rental program....

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Bob
'82 300D Petrol B-G Metallic

correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a vacuum pump useless if I don't evacuate the system first?

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1983 300D - 314,640 miles (not all by me) - Daily Driver --Sold--
1983 300d - 215,000 miles (approximately)

"correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a vacuum pump useless if I don't evacuate the system first?"

A Vacuum Pump "E Vacuates" the Moisture (and other naughty contaminants).

A Chemical (Liquid ) is used to "Flush" ALL the old Lubricant (AND Crap) from all
the system components EXCEPT:1.The Compressor(MUST be "Hand Flushed" by Rotation [of new lubricant, into the Compressor] ) and 2. The Expansion Valve.

So the Procedure is: Flush then Re-Assemble and E Vacuate, Immediately!

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Ok, so I got the A/C running today.

The low pressure switch was not connected, I'm guessing the ground was loose.

Hooked it back up, and it works, but just barely. The air isn't ice cold by a long shot, but it's "conditioned" I can tell that.

I notice that when I have it set to min and have the fan on high, it doesn't blow as much as when I have it in "economy" mode, using just the vent....is that normal? It's probably just the start of the dreaded climate control problems to go along with my oil leaks.

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1983 300D - 314,640 miles (not all by me) - Daily Driver --Sold--
1983 300d - 215,000 miles (approximately)