I installed a compete perfect fit ac unit in my 66 and would like to find a good video or info about how to go about charging my system for the 1st time.

I installed the system about a year ago
the drier has never been uncaped
I will connect the drier to the system just before I pull a vacuum
I searched Utube and here on the forum for info and found some but not enough.
Anyone been down this road?
I can get gages and vac pump
Should I even attempt this by myself or just pay to have it charged?
thanks for any help!

I installed a compete perfect fit ac unit in my 66 and would like to find a good video or info about how to go about charging my system for the 1st time.

I installed the system about a year ago
the drier has never been uncaped
I will connect the drier to the system just before I pull a vacuum
I searched Utube and here on the forum for info and found some but not enough.
Anyone been down this road?
I can get gages and vac pump
Should I even attempt this by myself or just pay to have it charged?
thanks for any help!

You can do it. It's not hard at all, especially since you have access to a vacuum pump and gauges.:thumbsup:
You say the dryer has never been uncapped. This is very good news since the rest was installed some time ago amd not charged. :yes:

There are a couple of questions that you need to answer, though:
-There needs to be about 8-10 ounces of oil in the system. Is there oil in it now or is the system dry?
-Since the dryer wasn't installed, have the lines been capped well since the system was installed?
-What compressor do you have? I'm guessing a Sanden 508.
-Have you ever engaged the compressor with the engine running?

It "should" only be a matter of installing the dryer, adding oil, evacuating and charging the system.
It may a bit more work if there is already oil in the system or compressor and/or the lines were uncapped. The PAG oil used in R134a systems is hygroscopic. It absorbs moisture like a sponge, much like brake fluid.
It's not the end of the world, you'll just have to remove the contaminated oil.

Once you answer those questions, I can tell you how to proceed.
You'll probably be charging refrigerant from 12oz cans, correct? If so, you'll also need one of these:
http://www.shop.com/Interdynamics+R+134a+Can+Tap+Dispenser+DV+134-299270719-p+.xhtml
It's an excellent can tap for the price.

You can do it. It's not hard at all, especially since you have access to a vacuum pump and gauges.:thumbsup:
You say the dryer has never been uncapped. This is very good news since the rest was installed some time ago amd not charged. :yes:

There are a couple of questions that you need to answer, though:
-There needs to be about 8-10 ounces of oil in the system. Is there oil in it now or is the system dry?
-Since the dryer wasn't installed, have the lines been capped well since the system was installed?
-What compressor do you have? I'm guessing a Sanden 508.
-Have you ever engaged the compressor with the engine running?

It "should" only be a matter of installing the dryer, adding oil, evacuating and charging the system.
It may a bit more work if there is already oil in the system or compressor and/or the lines were uncapped. The PAG oil used in R134a systems is hygroscopic. It absorbs moisture like a sponge, much like brake fluid.
It's not the end of the world, you'll just have to remove the contaminated oil.

Once you answer those questions, I can tell you how to proceed.
You'll probably be charging refrigerant from 12oz cans, correct? If so, you'll also need one of these:
http://www.shop.com/Interdynamics+R+134a+Can+Tap+Dispenser+DV+134-299270719-p+.xhtml
It's an excellent can tap for the price.

Thanks, the lines were all connected last summer except to the drier. I just left them unhocked. The compressor is a Sandon type and the instructions say is is already charged with oil.
I talked to a local guy on the phone and he said he would help if I bought the freon. Also said he woud charge the sytem with nitorgen first to get rid of any moisture before inducing any freon.

Thanks, the lines were all connected last summer except to the drier. I just left them unhocked. The compressor is a Sandon type and the instructions say is is already charged with oil.
I talked to a local guy on the phone and he said he would help if I bought the freon. Also said he woud charge the sytem with nitorgen first to get rid of any moisture before inducing any freon.

You have a local contact that's familiar with AC. That's good.:thumbsup:

Since the compressor was charged with oil and you left the lines uncapped, I would really suggest "oil flushing" the compressor. The PAG oil in the compressor has absorbed a years worth of moisture and humidity from ambient air. There's no way of removing it. (Nitrogen will "dry" the system but it can't un-bind moisture from the PAG oil). PAG oil and humidity is a really nasty mix.

-Pull the compressor off and drain it over a container while turning the shaft clockwise about 10-15 turns.
-Add the proper oil (likely PAG-46) into the inlet port while turning the compressor shaft until it comes out of the discharge port.
-Drain the compressor per above and repeat, ending with a "dry" compressor. Yea, it's oily but there's no real volume of oil inside.

- Add 4 ounces of fresh oil to the compressor and the rest of the recommended amount to the discharge line.
- Evacuate and charge the system to mfgr's spec.

Since the lines were uncapped for a year, it can't hurt to disconnect the expansion valve and blow dry nitrogen back through the liquid line. Small, multi-legged critters love openings like that for nesting.

Good Luck. Post back your results.:yes: