"homemade" A/C lines

["R. Cummings" <cumm@flash.net>]

>ate: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 11:54:39 -0400
>From: "Craig D. Niederst" <niederst@telerama.com>
>Subject: "homemade" A/C lines
>
>Coinciding with the first use of the A/C last month, I noticed a small
>amount of bluish green fluid coming out of the A/C high pressure line. I
>just received a call from the place where I go to have my car serviced, and
>they tell me the line does have a leak, and a new one from the dealer is
>$200. He then tells me that they seldom use the dealer parts for these
>lines, but they make their own at a fraction of the cost. Sounds good to me,
>but has anyone else dealt with these "homemade" components? TIA.
>
>Craig
>'92 100S (71k)

We have done a number of "dirty" conversions using R134a and ester oil to
replace R12. Typically we have not changed hoses but when necessary we have
successfully had hoses fabricated locally. I would recommend finding an
automotive A/C supply company as opposed to a general automotive place. We
use A.I.R. here in Ft. Worth, TX (no affiliation, only a customer). If the
problem is in the hose, they can usually reuse your fittings. The price is
really cheap compared to OEM hoses and almost no one in the business uses
OEM hoses.

Bob Cummings 87 Coupe GT 113,000 mi