RE: '85 5KT: A/C pipe weldable?

["Duff, Ian" <iduff@charter.com>]

Dunno about your particular pipe, but I just had the aluminum condensor
welded on my CQ, for $30, rather than Big Bucks to replace. Just beware
it needs to withstand 250PSI in the normal course of duty (if it is on
the high pressure side, best to use this number regardless of high or
low side).

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Ian Duff, 1990 Coupe quattro 20v, Red/Black

Home: New Bedford, MA, USA
Work: Charter Systems, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA
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>----------
>From: 	Arun Rao[SMTP:rao@quattro]
>Sent: 	Tuesday, 03 September, 1996 04:12 PM
>To: 	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
>Subject: 	'85 5KT: A/C pipe weldable?
>
>
>	The A/C on my '85 5KT (128K) stopped working suddenly a couple
>	of months ago, and I found over the weekend that the system was
>	just low on freon and the low-refrigerant switch would just cut
>	out the compressor.
>
>	Preparatory to having the system recharged, I put the A/C drivebelt
>	back on (with much difficulty: the damn thing is barely adjustable).
>	Unfortunately, I neglected to unscrew the support bracket for one
>	of the refrigerant pipes, and managed to crack it at the bracket
>	weld.
>
>	The guy at a welding shop said it would be no problem at all if
>	I removed the pipe from the car, but another mechanic thinks that
>	the whole thing should be replaced ($240 or something ridiculous
>	like that).  What do folks think?
>
>	Also, one of the unions to the compressor body is held there by
>	a hex socket head bolt. It has proved impossible to remove so
>	far, but before I try anything more drastic, does anyone know if
>	the bolt is indeed metric? The compressor may be an AC Delco: did
>	they make special ones for Audi?
>
>	Thanks in advance!
>
>	-Arun
>
>
>	PS: BTW, the compressor plumbing appears to be quite different
>	from the later MC-engined cars (mine's a late KH), at least according
>	to the Bentley.
>--
>Arun Rao
>Pixar Animation Studios
>Pt. Richmond, CA 94804
>(510) 215-3526
>