AC question

[bhw33191]

So i FINALLY got my AC working after about 8 years of not working.. i found that it was due to what i consider a design flaw; the two high and low pressure hoses (near where they connect to the condensor) are supported by two metal clamp things and the problem with this is they are screwed around the metal tubing so tight that vibrations from bumps eventually wore a crack through the hose. I knew a welder who managed to weld the aluminum back. I then charged the AC up and everything worked!! I am SO surprised it worked flawlessly after not working for over 8 years.

So after all my rambling on heres the point i'm getting at, the AC clutch engages just fine, except the RPMs take a bit of a drop from 1000 to about 600. It'll idle okay like that but when the cars cold itll almost turn off. Isn't there suppose to be a switch to kick up the RPMs? I guess i'm lucky this is all thats wrong with the thing but i'd like to get it in full working order. Does anyone know where this switch is located?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bhw33191

So i FINALLY got my AC working after about 8 years of not working.. i found that it was due to what i consider a design flaw; the two high and low pressure hoses (near where they connect to the condensor) are supported by two metal clamp things and the problem with this is they are screwed around the metal tubing so tight that vibrations from bumps eventually wore a crack through the hose. I knew a welder who managed to weld the aluminum back. I then charged the AC up and everything worked!! I am SO surprised it worked flawlessly after not working for over 8 years.

So after all my rambling on heres the point i'm getting at, the AC clutch engages just fine, except the RPMs take a bit of a drop from 1000 to about 600. It'll idle okay like that but when the cars cold itll almost turn off. Isn't there suppose to be a switch to kick up the RPMs? I guess i'm lucky this is all thats wrong with the thing but i'd like to get it in full working order. Does anyone know where this switch is located?

I believe the tubing clamps had some rubber material originally...protecting the tubing from the damage you experienced...

these older systems if properly repaired/charged cool faster and much better then the newer a/c systems...

should be a carb idle solenoid that is adjustible,,,when the a/c compressor is on this has 12volts sent to it to increase the idle with a push from this solenoid bolt on the throttle of carb...

on other gm engines like the 307 olds engine it was a vacuum powered device that does the same thing..as the vacuum drops the idle rod increases the pressure on the throttle so as to prevent stalling...

It would be surprising if any of these devices would still work after all these years,,if original..

[bhw33191]

Originally Posted by j cAT

I believe the tubing clamps had some rubber material originally...protecting the tubing from the damage you experienced...

these older systems if properly repaired/charged cool faster and much better then the newer a/c systems...

should be a carb idle solenoid that is adjustible,,,when the a/c compressor is on this has 12volts sent to it to increase the idle with a push from this solenoid bolt on the throttle of carb...

on other gm engines like the 307 olds engine it was a vacuum powered device that does the same thing..as the vacuum drops the idle rod increases the pressure on the throttle so as to prevent stalling...

It would be surprising if any of these devices would still work after all these years,,if original..

Ok thats all great to hear. And YES i was VERY surprised that this thing cools off faster than my 07 Durango. I'll have to check out that solinoid today because i remember noticing that on previous carb work that ive done so i know right where it is. I just figured it was cruise control or something but i guess not. And that thing about the vacuum idle rod would also make sense, my car has tried to stall plenty of times before but i've always been surprised to find it to keep running. Thanks so much for the help.