Build Greetings from Seattle...Fixing up "Blue Guy"

[red66toy]

Mine is still R12 or Freeze 12, if you will. I never could get my last 134 system below 44F. So I was determined to keep the R12 system in Poppy.

J

Yeah, our FJ62 was converted to r134a and I am sticking with it for various reasons. R12 does seem to be superior in cooling in this system.... since that is what it was designed for. I am hoping the new parallel flow condenser helps lower the temp in the r134a system over the stock condenser. Time will tell! Need to make 4 little mounts for it (this weekend) and i'll post up pics.

 

[mochosla]

Wow. Great project. I hope I'm able to get mine to look like that and perform all these upgrades!

 

[red66toy]

Thank you! Looks like you have a great base to start with! They are truly an endless, but fun, project Good luck!

 

[roma042987]

One of my new favorite threads, just read the whole thing this morning. Great work. Just curious why the aftermarket condenser? I know the 60 condensors are still available although not 100% sure they are same as 62. I converted my 60 to r134 and replaced all new components forward of the firewall and it blows ice cold so im confident it can be done with the newer refrifger. I'm planning on getting an a evaporator and expansion valve just to keep for when/if I have problems.

 

[red66toy]

One of my new favorite threads, just read the whole thing this morning. Great work. Just curious why the aftermarket condenser? I know the 60 condensors are still available although not 100% sure they are same as 62. I converted my 60 to r134 and replaced all new components forward of the firewall and it blows ice cold so im confident it can be done with the newer refrifger. I'm planning on getting an a evaporator and expansion valve just to keep for when/if I have problems.

Thank you! Means a lot coming from you, your work is impeccable! I decided to go with the parallel flow condenser as an experiment since they were designed to be used with r134a. They are supposedly about 30% more efficient than the condensers made for the r12. It seemed to me that the guys still using r12 were getting the lowest vent temps while the retrofit systems were warmer (but still cold). So I decided to see if "upgrading" the condenser to a more modern design would lower the vent temps. I like a challenge and experimenting with this stuff, so off I went! Definitely curious to see if it makes a big enough difference.

 

[Kleatus]

I had about 37 degrees with mine when I recharged it (with 134a) last spring. I should check it again and see how it's doing. Seems to still work fine. All stock but with a rock auto dryer.

 

[red66toy]

I had about 37 degrees with mine when I recharged it (with 134a) last spring. I should check it again and see how it's doing. Seems to still work fine. All stock but with a rock auto dryer. View attachment 1509494

Nice! That is the lowest temp I have seen reported so far with 134a. It seems like most of the temps that I have seen are in the 40s but of course a lot depends on how they are measuring it and ambient temps and AC component health.

 

[Kleatus]

I had about 37 degrees with mine when I recharged it (with 134a) last spring. I should check it again and see how it's doing. Seems to still work fine. All stock but with a rock auto dryer. View attachment 1509494

With @NookShneer as my witness we just checked the vent temps on Badgy again. Seems to have gotten better? Maybe it's cooler today than when I did it last year. It's 72 deg out now.

 

[red66toy]

Whoa! It is about 75ish out now? Good data points!

 

[NookShneer]

Whoa! It is about 75ish out now? Good data points!

Another data point - the hand throttle was pulled to boost RPM's...

Chase might be pulling his hair out trying to figure out why he is only getting 39 degs.

 

[red66toy]

Another data point - the hand throttle was pulled to boost RPM's...

Chase might be pulling his hair out trying to figure out why he is only getting 39 degs.

Hahaha . @Kleatus is upping the stakes!

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Chase,

I finally dug them out of my old Marley build thread.

R134 conversion, all new components

At the vent

Front seat after a 10min drive

Ambient conditions within a month or so of install IIRC. Damn I'm glad I'm not in East Texas anymore....

 

[red66toy]

Chase,

I finally dug them out of my old Marley build thread.

R134 conversion, all new components

At the vent

Front seat after a 10min drive

Ambient conditions within a month or so of install IIRC. Damn I'm glad I'm not in East Texas anymore....

Nice! Thanks! Good to have comparisons.
121!!!! I hope you ran back to the AC after taking that picture! hahaha

Hoping to have the AC running next week. Ordered pure 134a and @Kleatus is going to let me use his vacuum pump and gauges.

 

[Kleatus]

Another data point - the hand throttle was pulled to boost RPM's...

Chase might be pulling his hair out trying to figure out why he is only getting 39 degs.

Hahaha . @Kleatus is upping the stakes!

I won't deny it... . but in my defense I was at the dog park when I saw the message and thought about it - then my wife texted to say @NookShneer had showed up, so I went home (4 minute drive) with the AC blasting and let it run in the drive at 1,500 RPM's for a minute while I retrieved the temp gun. So now you have an even more informative data point!

 

[red66toy]

New parallel flow condenser in, coolant and tranny fluid hoses hooked back up, belts tensioned, and slew of wires and small hoses all in there place. Its Alive!!!!..... again! hahaha. Nothing caught on fire, blew up or leaked so far so I will consider this a success so far...


The condenser was mounted using custom little brackets (a 6 year old could make, and it looks like one did) that use the factory isolator cushions and mount locations. The long bolts in the pictures were changed later

Time to put some miles on this behemoth.
Hoping to get the new AC lines made in the next two days.

 

[NookShneer]

Nice work Chase!

I'm excited to hear back on the performance of the new AC system.

New parallel flow condenser in, coolant and tranny fluid hoses hooked back up, belts tensioned, and slew of wires and small hoses all in there place. Its Alive!!!!..... again! hahaha. Nothing caught on fire, blew up or leaked so far so I will consider this a success so far...


The condenser was mounted using custom little brackets (a 6 year old could make, and it looks like one did) that use the factory isolator cushions and mount locations. The long bolts in the pictures were changed later

Time to put some miles on this behemoth.
Hoping to get the new AC lines made in the next two days.

 

[red66toy]

Well I finally got to drive the beast! It made it on a 10mile loop around Seattle. AC lines are being made as we speak by a shop that knows what they are doing. Discovered a coolant leak when I got to the hose fitting place, luckily it was just a loose hose clamp. Then I discovered I was leaking transmission fluid from the radiator fitting. I was able to get back to work ok and then home (I already had a few bottles of ATF in the cruiser just in case). Then when I got home I discovered I am getting some brake fluid weeping from the fittings at the master cylinder! One step forward, two steps back.

Hopefully the brake fittings just need to be cleaned up and not need replacing. Transmission fluid leak should be easy to fix. Almost there.

I am happy to report though that it was a blast to drive. Coolant temps stayed between the 1/4 and 1/2 marks. Engine seemed responsive and it handled fantastic (thanks @reevesci ). I can't believe how much this cruiser has changed since I first got working on it. The steering system actually tells the cruiser which direction to go now! hahahaha

 

[red66toy]

Got the lines made up today! Huge thanks to Bruce at Nebar Hose and Fittings in Ballard. Guy was awesome and did a fantastic job making the new lines and custom fittings.

New fittings welded onto the old proprietary Toyota fittings:

Need to tweak the routing on the top little line a little to better follow the factory routing. Now its time to charge it up and see how it all works

Happy to report nothing leaked on this round of driving. Not a drop! Teflon tape was added to the transmission cooler line fittings (thanks @Kleatus ) and the brake fittings were cleaned and no more weeping. Brakes seem better now too. Next step is to bolt the rear bench back in and go for a drive with the family

 

[Aravind Dileepan]

I'm going to have to read through this thread and keep track of everything. I think my AC needs a new condenser, and could use a full service like you just did. First, more pressing issues like my seats and the broken muffler that leaves me smelling of diesel exhaust by the time I get home.

It's good to know that Nebar knows what's up. I live closeby.

Thanks,

Ara

 

[red66toy]

Hey Ara,
Let me know how the exhaust fix goes. I need to get my exhaust redone/rerouted so I can add some sliders. Trying to look into good shops around Seattle. Your rear bench seats are going to be great! Looking forward to seeing how those turn out.