4Cruisers
SILVER Star
Thought I'd post up my recent experience with my R134a conversion.
My now-running '86 FJ60 received a transplant of almost all of '89 FJ62 donor vehicle parts, including the 3FE (rebuilt by Empire Engines in Albuquerque), A/C system, brake system, heating system, axles, fuel system, power everything, wiring harness, dash, transfer case, etc. The only thing other than body and frame that's original is some of the seat components, radiator (retained the 3FE fan shroud), pedal bucket, clutch (new components), 3F bellhousing, and transmission support crossmember (holding up a new H55f).
A number of months ago I completed the conversion of the donor vehicle's original R12 A/C system to R134a. The system was working well when I started the FJ62 tear-down, but I knew everything would be disassembled into individual components, so decided to go ahead with the conversion. I previously had Toyota of Santa Fe evacuate the system of R12. After a lot of research, including a review of Toyota's R12
Air Conditioner System Retrofit Technical Service Bulletin (AC002-98 2nd Revision) and Toyota's Air Conditioning Fundamentals and Repair manual (Pub. No. 36950E), I started to buy the parts, supplies, and tools needed.
Cdan helped with ordering the Toyota R134a receiver/dryer (88471-12080). Later I purchased a Toyota pressure switch (88645-30250) from toyotapartsdeal.com; and a Denso expansion valve (475-0101), R134a service adapters, and PAG 46 oil from Coolstream. I reused all of the FJ62 lines, hoses, evaporator, compressor, and condenser (previously leak-tested) after thoroughly cleaning. I buckled down and purchased a Mastercool 84172 R134a manifold gauge set (with the longer hoses) and a Mastercool rotary vane deep vacuum pump (90062-B). Other tools and supplies needed included vacuum pump oil, three 12-ounce cans of R134a refrigerant, and a can tap/valve.
Once the 3FE was installed and the A/C system reassembled/installed I started with the pump-down of the system. Big dread factor ahead of that! I was able to pull a good vacuum, down to almost 20 inches Hg (@ 7,240 feet), and it held for a day and a half. It was still holding this vacuum this morning, many months after the pump-down .
Another big dread factor this morning. Now that the rebuilt 3FE is pretty much broken in and the FJ60 is roadworthy, insured, and registered, it was time to charge the system. The TSB provided the R134a charge amount (800 grams or ~28 ounces) and one of the posts here on MUD provided a decent range for the low pressure and high pressure readings to tell when the system is properly charged. After reviewing the A/C charge video by Eric the Car Guy (learned about the video here on MUD) a couple of times and reviewing the operation of the manifold I hooked up the manifold, plugged in the first can of refrigerant (sitting in a warm water bath), bled air from the yellow hose, and fired up the vehicle (A/C on, fresh air, maximum cool, fan on low, vents, ~1,500 rpm). Initial vent temperature was 88* F. Opened the low pressure valve on the manifold and let it do its thing. After a couple of cans of R134a the high pressure side was reading a little shy of 200 psi, so I started the third can. I turned off the low pressure manifold valve when the high pressure side read ~220 psi and the low pressure reading was ~38 psi. A quick check of the vent temperature showed a low of ~27* F! The steady-state reading was about 36* to 40*. I'm calling that good .
After looking back at it, it's not really a difficult job, just a lot of dread factor as I mentioned, never having done any A/C work previously. Learned a lot here on MUD, with a lot of inspiration through several posts by @Aloha Jen. Thanks!
Now that I've got the A/C running well in the '86 FJ60, I've got to take a look at my '84 FJ60, which we use in Las Vegas. Last time we were out there I noticed that it still has the old R12 sight glass receiver/dryer. I'll have to figure that one out because the conversion was done by one of the Toyota dealerships there. They must not have followed their own TSB. I'm thinking of replacing the receiver dryer with the same Toyota part on the '86, making sure the system has PAG 46 oil, and doing the pump-down/leak check. Should be a lot easier now that I've gone through this once.
My now-running '86 FJ60 received a transplant of almost all of '89 FJ62 donor vehicle parts, including the 3FE (rebuilt by Empire Engines in Albuquerque), A/C system, brake system, heating system, axles, fuel system, power everything, wiring harness, dash, transfer case, etc. The only thing other than body and frame that's original is some of the seat components, radiator (retained the 3FE fan shroud), pedal bucket, clutch (new components), 3F bellhousing, and transmission support crossmember (holding up a new H55f).
A number of months ago I completed the conversion of the donor vehicle's original R12 A/C system to R134a. The system was working well when I started the FJ62 tear-down, but I knew everything would be disassembled into individual components, so decided to go ahead with the conversion. I previously had Toyota of Santa Fe evacuate the system of R12. After a lot of research, including a review of Toyota's R12
Air Conditioner System Retrofit Technical Service Bulletin (AC002-98 2nd Revision) and Toyota's Air Conditioning Fundamentals and Repair manual (Pub. No. 36950E), I started to buy the parts, supplies, and tools needed.
Cdan helped with ordering the Toyota R134a receiver/dryer (88471-12080). Later I purchased a Toyota pressure switch (88645-30250) from toyotapartsdeal.com; and a Denso expansion valve (475-0101), R134a service adapters, and PAG 46 oil from Coolstream. I reused all of the FJ62 lines, hoses, evaporator, compressor, and condenser (previously leak-tested) after thoroughly cleaning. I buckled down and purchased a Mastercool 84172 R134a manifold gauge set (with the longer hoses) and a Mastercool rotary vane deep vacuum pump (90062-B). Other tools and supplies needed included vacuum pump oil, three 12-ounce cans of R134a refrigerant, and a can tap/valve.
Once the 3FE was installed and the A/C system reassembled/installed I started with the pump-down of the system. Big dread factor ahead of that! I was able to pull a good vacuum, down to almost 20 inches Hg (@ 7,240 feet), and it held for a day and a half. It was still holding this vacuum this morning, many months after the pump-down .
Another big dread factor this morning. Now that the rebuilt 3FE is pretty much broken in and the FJ60 is roadworthy, insured, and registered, it was time to charge the system. The TSB provided the R134a charge amount (800 grams or ~28 ounces) and one of the posts here on MUD provided a decent range for the low pressure and high pressure readings to tell when the system is properly charged. After reviewing the A/C charge video by Eric the Car Guy (learned about the video here on MUD) a couple of times and reviewing the operation of the manifold I hooked up the manifold, plugged in the first can of refrigerant (sitting in a warm water bath), bled air from the yellow hose, and fired up the vehicle (A/C on, fresh air, maximum cool, fan on low, vents, ~1,500 rpm). Initial vent temperature was 88* F. Opened the low pressure valve on the manifold and let it do its thing. After a couple of cans of R134a the high pressure side was reading a little shy of 200 psi, so I started the third can. I turned off the low pressure manifold valve when the high pressure side read ~220 psi and the low pressure reading was ~38 psi. A quick check of the vent temperature showed a low of ~27* F! The steady-state reading was about 36* to 40*. I'm calling that good .
After looking back at it, it's not really a difficult job, just a lot of dread factor as I mentioned, never having done any A/C work previously. Learned a lot here on MUD, with a lot of inspiration through several posts by @Aloha Jen. Thanks!
Now that I've got the A/C running well in the '86 FJ60, I've got to take a look at my '84 FJ60, which we use in Las Vegas. Last time we were out there I noticed that it still has the old R12 sight glass receiver/dryer. I'll have to figure that one out because the conversion was done by one of the Toyota dealerships there. They must not have followed their own TSB. I'm thinking of replacing the receiver dryer with the same Toyota part on the '86, making sure the system has PAG 46 oil, and doing the pump-down/leak check. Should be a lot easier now that I've gone through this once.