Is there anything I should be careful of this weekend when I disconnect and pull the A/C pumps and hoses out of my 1970 455 Wagon? I don't need A/C and it blocks the view of the passenger side of the 455 so out it goes. I'm not going to get poisoned by the refridgerant or something am I?
Yes Blake, if there is refrigerant still in the system you need to be careful it doesn't burn you and or get into your eyes. In the US it is illegal to vent refrigerants into the atmosphere and to do this legally it would have to be recovered and stored in a cylinder. I don't know Canadian law. You would also be wise to not have any fires or combustion (heaters) going on in the presence of refrigerant since when you burn refrigerant the fumes are deadly.
Thanks Andy, yeah it is against Canadian Law to vent it into the atmosphere, so I guess I will have to see who here in town can do it properly for me. Beautiful looking car by the way.
Do you really think most people worry about the ozone layer with a few lbs. of refrigerent???? Cow farts do more damage. I loosen a fitting and let it escape slowly. DO NOT SMOKE A CIGARETTE OR CIGAR IN THE AREA. It can create a mustard gas.
You do know that you have the remove the fender to get that a/c box out, don't you? Also after you get that a/c box out, you will need to replace it with an a/c delete box to have heater, fan, defrost functions. this because the fan, heater core, and fan shroud are housed in that box. Also... the a/c delete firewall is cut differently and will require a piece of a non a/c car firewall to be added to it. I know you didn't ask for opinions to do it or not, but I wouldn't. it will be a mess. a question.... have you ever thought of just putting a GS front clip on the wagon? they look pretty damn sweet for a wagon, if you give them a the 'gs treatment' just a thought.do you have any pictures yet?
Refrigerant/freon, when exposed to an open flame, creates "phosgene" gas, which affects the nervous system, and can cause serious symptoms, even death. Refrigerant gas is heavier than air, so you will not notice it...Have the system professionaly evacuated before disconnecting it. Do not take chances...I've also heard of people recharging a/c systems with propane(cause it does work...but if you get a leak and a flame or spark...BOOM). If you do decide to let the refrigerant escape to the atmosphere(which I don't reccommend), do it outside far away from anything that could have an open flame! After that, its just nuts and bolts and sticky sealer and a big hole in the firewall that you gotta weld up, plus yer heater won't work anymore(unless you find a non-ac heater but you still gotta weld up the hole)
No Paul I don't think most people worry about venting refrigerant. I never told him not to vent it. I figured he was planning to vent it. I just thought letting him know that it might not be legal was the right thing to do.
And I appreciate that fact Andy, and for all the advice guys, thanks. I think I will leave the A/C in there, or just remove the compressor. As to putting a GS front clip on the wagon, I think that would be the best damn looking wagon around, that would be alot of work though wouldn't it? And I would imagine that I would have to ruin a skylark to get the front clip, and I can't even find a skylark close to me that is worth buying for a skylark project let alone for me to rip up to make my wagon cool-er.
Biggest problem with refrigerants is it displaces Oxygen in enclosed areas. Also have the shop crack your lines for you so you do not gewt a resdual face full. Frozen eye balls are no fun. I am sure you guys from North of the Border know all about that anyway.:shock:
as Northern people are used to the cold!!! Although it is 50F here in Vancouver and we rarely get below 40F. Thats not bad considering the rest of my country is dealing with -10 or colder. hmmm I got off topic there sorry.
