94 Regal Custom A/C Condenser

Has anyone replaced an A/C condenser? Mine has a hole in it. I tried to add some R134a and it whistled out the front of the condenser Chilton's avoids A/C. I'm not concerned with collecting the R134a, I'm pretty sure it is gone? I just wondered if it was worth doing the swap, then letting an A/C guy evacuate and charge it.

Ray