AC problem---again!!!

[560slsteve]

well, the day that i thought i finally got the AC working on this car was a greater accomplishment than graduating law school. i had replaced everything from the evaporator out, including lines and condenser, etc. and finally ended with the compressor to find my system leak. I was and still am on a mission.......

PLUS, after reading all the r134 mess, conversions, and r-12, etc, i spring to get my own license to buy r12 and put the original gas back into the system. this car has gone thru a systematic rebuild and new paint, etc., and in the next 2 weeks will have the front end engine maintenance ( timing chain, tensioner, guides, cam oilers, etc) done, new exhaust system, etc.

so i put the correct amount of r12 as called for on the sticker in the engine compartment. the thing is cooling great, and this is a driver which i drive all the time. i am going wear it out than rust it out, and i dont believe in garage queens.


so i am driving today, dumb, fat , and happy and thinking how i am glad that damn gas is finally staying in the system, and my knuckles are getting cold with the AC--the outside temp was about 87.


THEN i hear a POP which wasnt good. stopped the car, opened the hood, and oil was blown everywhere on the front of the engine. the AC hose coming off the compressor manifold to the condenser has been blown off the crimped connection, and opened the system.

so what could have happened??? too much pressure on the system? over gassed? i thought i had a high pressure cut off switch on it. a mechanic at the marina, who is also a car guy, says he has never seen this and maybe the crimp on the hose was bad. the hose in about 1 1/2 years old which i bought new. i have the AC gauges, but havent checked the pressures since i installed the gas last year. but the high and low pressures were correct from the literature i had then on the correct pressures for the ambient temperature for r12.


sooo, i guess when i take the front end out in a few weeks to do the waterpump and the other junk, i will get back on this compressor.

any thoughts about what to look for when i gas it back up would be appreciated. i am hoping to find someone to re-crimp this hose here in town if that is possible----it looks fine, just blown off the crimped end. thank God it didnt wind up in the fan or radiator!! Has anyone else heard of a line blowing off like this?

been one of those days, but I am going to have air in this car if i have to cut a hole in the roof and mount an RV roof top unit with a generator in the trunk!!!!!

thanks for any advice!!