Since I have to swap it out anyway, is there any
better compressors that will bolt up and handle the S.FL.
heat a little better?

__________________
81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

How did it fail? If it failed internally, you must disconnect ALL components and flush the debris out of the system THOROUGHLLY or your new compressor will be destroyed. Beyond that there are no upgrades necessary. If the system is properly cleaned, a fresh r/d installed, correct amount of oil distrubuted through components, evacuated and then charged with the CORRECT volume of R12, you will be cool, even in South Florida.

Don't forget to clean the evaporator, one way or the other.

I just completed this task but I also replaced the expansion valve. Everything was put back to the way it came from the factory. Works almost as good as when new (I still have a bad pod to fix). 100 outside, less than 36 out the vent. One of the main reasons I've kept this car 26 years is because it's nice and cool in the hot Texas summer - gets colder faster than my newer cars!

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

That is exceptional performance out of a W123!!! Enjoy that CR-T

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

My OE compressor blows ice cold in the south Florida heat. Fix yours right and it will too.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Diesel Giant has great A/C rebuild tutorial here:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/repairyourac.htm

__________________
1972 280SE 4.5

http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=01&Category_Code=Parallel

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

^What size is our condenser anyways? I'm about to do some AC work to Norm, and I might order one.

To install a parallel-flow condenser, you will need to make new lines. It's not a bolt-in part.

Don't waste your money on "upgrades." Fix it to stock specs, use R-12 and it will blow ice cold in the hotest and most humid of climates.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

You don't have much choice on compressors other than build quality. I would expect all the R-4 units to compress pretty much the same way - which is sufficient with R-12 refrigerant.

The key is to use R-12 instead of R-134a.

The A/C system components just aren't designed with enough "margin" to allow the suitable use of the less efficient R-134a. Yes, it will cool with R-134a in moderate weather, but in really hot weather it will not do a good job.

Having to replace the compressor (where you need to flush the system anyway to clear out debris) is a good time to revert back to R-12 if your car was converted to R-134a.

Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

This is where the road splits. I was hoping for a better compressor to be able
to run r-134a with. It is much less expensive and much easier to find,
not to mention, I can do it myself.

__________________
81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

Its a one time fee to buy R-12 and then you are good to go for years. Chances are you won't even have the car by the time you need more R-12 for whatever reason. Just pay a couple hundred bucks to have a shop put in some R-12 and enjoy cold air conditioning for years.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

I'm not sure I understand why you can do R-134a yourself, but not R-12.

For a supply of R-12, go to EBay and search on "R-12". It is abundant.

Of course, I have gone through the Certification process where you pay something like $20 and take an open-book test online. Well worth the effort.

http://www.epatest.com/609/

Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles