Well let me answer all the questions and comments by "poster"

leathermang

"You are one ORGANIZED man."

With my flying yes, My garage, PLEASE don't look at it. It really is a mess. When the kids go back to college, the garage is a major reorganize project.

Rick Miley

I originally was going to put the R12 into the system once the "mods" proved reliable. But now I don't think I will. The setup has proven to be a good system and I don't think going to R12 would gain me any advantage but a $120 bill for freon. So for now it will remain a R134a system.
Now if Larry Bible wanted to lend me some R12 for a couple of hours we could run a test. Take vent temp readings. Remove the R134a and install R12 then take the same readings. Then remove the R12 and install the R134a, unless the R12 readings were much more impresive.

Eric Eliel

Yes the TD is bigger. But is it balanced due to the tinting? I don't know. But it is a factor.
Harbor Freight does have a boroscope for $169 on sale at times, a non flexable unit. Getting to the evaporator would be an absolute PITA. You would have to go thru the fan opening and get to the evaporator. I don't know if it is possible.

Its now Wednesday night, 6 hours after I started this post

I did get a new thermometer (old guage read 9 degrees higher than the new one in the vent side by side) and drove the car tonight. The first 10 minutes was hot, car was sitting in the sun. The temp would only drop to 40 driving around town. 38 on the highway. So maybe I will consider the R12. Tomorrow I will do the same with the 240D that has the R12. See how the stop and go temp readings are and then decide about the R12.

Jim

Consider hot wireing your fan so its on all the time. I disconnected the temp switch in the reciever/dryer and made a jumper for it. So the fan is on anytime the car ignition is turned on. This was I get the fan cooling the parallel flow condensor at all times.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car