Help needed - sorting out a/c lines 70 Challenger with a 340

[Dakota]

I'm trying to make sure I have all the right pieces to make all of the plumbing connections on my a/c system, but I'm not able to find any references that match what's in my car.  This Challenger had a/c from the factory and a 26" radiator.   Unlike every picture I've found on the internet for this car and engine size, the a/c dryer is mounted in a bracket on the passenger side of the condenser on the core support.   They "typical" arrangement has the dryer mounted on the wheel well, roughly in the same spot as where I have the control valve for the heater.  On my car, the support brackets for the a/c condenser are tied in to the radiator supports.   The more typical arrangement has brackets that tie in to the core support.

The first picture shows what is listed on Moparts as a 70 Challenger with a small block engine.   This arrangement seem to match the drawings in the Factory Service Manual.

The next couple of pictures show what I have in my car, including the line which runs between the expansion valve and the dryer which was present when I bought the car .   This line has a date stamp on the rubber from 1991 so it's not original.

The replacement lines that I've found would fit the dryer arrangement that's shown in the Moparts picture.  Since I don't want to re-use the 1991 vintage hose, I suppose there's an option to get the rubber replaced, but I wanted to check if anyone has seen this configuration before and point towards where I could get a replacement hose.  Frankly, I'm also wondering if this radiator/condenser/hose arrangement was borrowed from a different model car.

[1 Wild R/T]

The lines you have appear to be a dealer install kit...  Definitely not the normal parts....

Are you dead set on using the RV-2 compressor?  I'd suggest changing to a Sanden, they use less horsepower, they move more freon & they don't leak... The RV-2 was problematic for leaks back in the day went using R12... If you convert to R134 the R134 molecule is about half the size of the R12 molecule so whats a slow leak with R12 with drain the system in less than a week...

I've been doing allot of R134 conversions lately & I've been very happy with the results...

I keep the stock evaporator, condenser, I use a expansion valve calibrated for R134, a receiver dryer with the standard switch replaced with a binary switch... I modify the suction line & discharge line by silver soldering
O ring fittings to the steel line segments that connect to the evaporator & condenser... I make new custom hoses from the Sanden to the fitting that's silver soldered... I've been using the Bouchlon compressor brackets....  Last Cuda I did blows 38 degrees at the center vent...

Doing a Challenger now...

[1 Wild R/T]

BTW if you plan to use compression fittings like you currently are using the tubing has to be perfect if you want any chance of it not leaking... And that suction line is distorted all through the area where you've spliced..  I strongly suggest you silver solder a fitting on the tube...

[Dakota]

Thanks for the guidance.   I was trying to avoid the expense of a new a/c compressor by rebuilding the RV-2 with 134a compatible o-rings and such, but that may not be the best choice in the long run.  A system prone to leaking will be of no use to me.    I think I'll leave the existing RV-2 in place and empty to use the a/c clutch as an oversized idler wheel until I can get the updated compressor and proper hoses.  The a/c system has turned into a bit of a distraction from getting other stuff done on the car.    There's only a couple of weeks where a/c is really needed in this area so it can wait for "later".

[1 Wild R/T]

I was out "testing" my A/C today.... And I'll be testing it all the way to Reno tomorrow.... Out here we use it allot so it's worth doing the upgrade...

Honestly the compressors are pretty cheap, (less than $100)  it's all the other little things that add up... I've done 5 conversions recently, with Brackets, fittings, hoses, flush, expansion valve, dryer, freon & all the other little things that need doing I've averaged about $600 actual cost..  You can get the flushing tool, vacuum pump & gauge set as loaners at O Riellys or Autozone...   Don't know of anyone loaning the crimping tool, I bought mine on Amazon....

[70 Challenger Lover]

Thanks for the guidance.   I was trying to avoid the expense of a new a/c compressor by rebuilding the RV-2 with 134a compatible o-rings and such, but that may not be the best choice in the long run.  A system prone to leaking will be of no use to me.    I think I'll leave the existing RV-2 in place and empty to use the a/c clutch as an oversized idler wheel until I can get the updated compressor and proper hoses.  The a/c system has turned into a bit of a distraction from getting other stuff done on the car.    There's only a couple of weeks where a/c is really needed in this area so it can wait for "later".

Regardless of which compressor route you take, if you switch to r134, you should consider changing your original serpentine style condenser for a modern parallel flow condenser. They are not expensive and easy to install. I had to learn a lot about AC systems for another older car and I spoke with several technicians along the way. I am certainly not an expert by any means but in essence, they explained that the newer style works far better with the newer refrigerant which has higher temps and pressures. I don't think it's as much a safety thing as it is an efficiency thing.

I also bought the crimping tool for making my own hoses. The hose material and fittings are cheap so you can customize a really clean set up. I'd make new hoses to do it right. If you are considering reusing an old dryer and expansion valve, I wouldn't unless you send them out for professional cleaning and rebuilding. New ones are cheap. And before you hook everything up, I'd buy a few cans of flush along with a flush kit to clean out old items like the evaporator. When I did mine, tons of crap got flushed out. Any old lubricant probably won't be compatible with new lubricant and seals. Any old particles in the system will destroy a new compressor fast.

[Brads70]

Thanks for the guidance.   I was trying to avoid the expense of a new a/c compressor by rebuilding the RV-2 with 134a compatible o-rings and such, but that may not be the best choice in the long run.  A system prone to leaking will be of no use to me.    I think I'll leave the existing RV-2 in place and empty to use the a/c clutch as an oversized idler wheel until I can get the updated compressor and proper hoses.  The a/c system has turned into a bit of a distraction from getting other stuff done on the car.    There's only a couple of weeks where a/c is really needed in this area so it can wait for "later".

Regardless of which compressor route you take, if you switch to r134, you should consider changing your original serpentine style condenser for a modern parallel flow condenser. They are not expensive and easy to install. I had to learn a lot about AC systems for another older car and I spoke with several technicians along the way. I am certainly not an expert by any means but in essence, they explained that the newer style works far better with the newer refrigerant which has higher temps and pressures. I don't think it's as much a safety thing as it is an efficiency thing.

I also bought the crimping tool for making my own hoses. The hose material and fittings are cheap so you can customize a really clean set up. I'd make new hoses to do it right. If you are considering reusing an old dryer and expansion valve, I wouldn't unless you send them out for professional cleaning and rebuilding. New ones are cheap. And before you hook everything up, I'd buy a few cans of flush along with a flush kit to clean out old items like the evaporator. When I did mine, tons of crap got flushed out. Any old lubricant probably won't be compatible with new lubricant and seals. Any old particles in the system will destroy a new compressor fast.

Sorry for the hijack, but can you tell me more about the tool to make your own lines? I'm going to be adding a vintage air system to my Javelin and am trying to learn all I can. A/C is a new frontier to me. Thanks Brad

[70 Challenger Lover]

Mastertool ac hose crimper. Super easy to use and turned out a very professional looking result. Around $150 or so depending on how many collets you get. I bought mine used off eBay and saved a couple dollars.

[Brads70]

   Thanks! Are the ends/fittings and hoses easy/common to get?

[70 Challenger Lover]

Extremely easy and not too expensive either. Like $6 each. You can get them on eBay but I found a place near me that specializes in industrial hoses and other equipment. They had a whole wall of them in various sizes and angles. They also sold the AC hose by the foot. I just mapped out what I wanted and went shopping. There are kits on eBay as well but I liked customizing everything on that car so it all fit like a glove. They come with a smooth outer sleeve and a barbed nipple inside so the hose slides in easily and the crimper just crushes it evenly around the outside. It's actually kind of fun.