Project ugly duckling

[dazedandconfused]

Hey Ellis what oil do you run? My parts all came in so on Friday I hope to start cleaning things up and putting the system back together. My scale should be here by then I hope to. I have everything now to do my own ac work except for a recovery machine.

[ellis93]

I've been running pag oil,it's what's at the shop and what I use the most of. I know your flushing every part of you system so it won't matter what you use as long as theirs at least 6oz put back in. Honestly I'd probably go out of my way to buy the pag oil anyhow.

As for the scales......why bother? Feed that freon slow and in short intervals,checking low/high side pressures in between. If I am out and about servicing a piece of equipment I never use a scale. I just scoop up the gauges and 30lb cylinder and go. Only time I really know what's going on is when I use 12oz cans or use the ac machine at the shop. It's not real technical but I get the job done.
The pressures always tell you what's going on in any system from a residential unit to a tractor. All you have to know is what to look for at any given ambient temp.

[dazedandconfused]

I got it dirt cheap and its a piece of mind thing for me even though I go off the gauges when charging for the most part. I just charged dads Ranger the other night. I'm trying to figure out the issue with his powerstroke. I'm pretty sure it has a blockage. It wouldn't take freon and the high side pressure was hovering at 195 and low side was 20 when it was 85 degrees out.

[ellis93]

Pop out that orifice tube,it'll tell you all you need to know. If it's clean, get a fan clutch.

[dazedandconfused]

His truck was a flood recovery truck so I'm afraid to see if the evaporater core is plugged. I told him we need to pull it apart.

[dazedandconfused]

Pulled the heater box tonight to clean it out. It was half full of leaves but didn't look like it had rotted the evaporator core yet.

[RumbleFish]

I like how you pull the heater box out like its no big deal. I would dread that for for months and probably sell the truck to avoid it.

[dazedandconfused]

It took me 20 minutes to pull it out. Its actually rather easy. I dropped the steering column, pulled two lower dash bolts and two mid braces bolts. Dash pulled out and box slid right out

[Tacoclaw]

Yup, ol' Mark had a nice little description to pull it, took me about as long as Andy.

Not a huge deal at all, really, the worst part was getting all the little screws that hold the heat shield over in on the underhood side.

[dazedandconfused]

Okay is there suppose to be a switch on the expansion valve? Its been so long since I took out apart I don't remember. The 89 expansion valve has nothing and new 93 has a plug in the side where it looks like a switch will go. Also what is this plug for?

[ellis93]

Yep there's a switch that goes there,only the aftermarket exp valve orientation is ass backwards from the factory unit. That switch will be pointed toward the engine upon installation of the exp valve. You'll have to bend the spade terminals on the switch in order to hook your wires back to it.
If the dodge was close to me I'd snap a pic to show you what I did.

I'd find that switch,you'll need it.

[dazedandconfused]

Jeff helped me find the part number I needed this morning. Auto zone had no idea what I was talking about. Any idea what that other plug is?

[PToombs]

Andy, in your 1st pic of the heater box? Slide a piece of screen in that slot just before where the trash is, where the door swings by. I did that to mine and it keeps crap out of there. I wish I had put one on the other side to keep the stuff from going thru the fan.

[dazedandconfused]

Andy, in your 1st pic of the heater box? Slide a piece of screen in that slot just before where the trash is, where the door swings by. I did that to mine and it keeps crap out of there. I wish I had put one on the other side to keep the stuff from going thru the fan.

To late for that its already back in the truck after a good cleaning. My last two parts should be here tomorrow.

[dazedandconfused]

Well I was putting everything together today and found this.