Awhile back I was helping my 16yr old daughter install a CD player and noticed that the brass pipes going into the evaporator (behind the dash in the radio area) were split. When we bought the car we knew the a/c needed work but thought just recharging. Two questions:

1. Is the evaporator realtively easy to replace (according to reading it does not seem too hard)?

2. Anyone had luck with a 'conversion' to the new coolant instead of R12?

Temps in New Mexico are rising - 95 today - and daughter is starting to complain.

Many thanks - Ted in Albuquerque

Hi Ted -

The Volvo conversion kit is occasionally to be found on eBay, sold by Beau Macgregor up Bellingham, WA. I have used him and he'll work with you. I have watched him auction two such kits, and each one went for around $130 plus shipping. The picture shows VOLVO on the packaging, and it contains the right stuff.

Here's the way I survived two Houston sommers w/o A/C. Should work better in Albuquerque since the humidity is considerable lower than here.

(1) seek out shaded parking, a little walking won't hurt. Wear sunglasses.

(2) Park facing the sun and use a reflective windshield cover. Get of that's pretty long and has ties. Use it on the outside of the windshield, held down by the wipers and with one or both upper corners slammed in the door. If used inside the car, the space between the glass and the reflector become a furnace, try it - you'll see.

(3) Park with all 4 windows down about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Allows heated air to flow out.

(4) When getting into the car - after opening the driver's door walk around the car opening all the other doors. Then walk around again closing them - even a slight breeze will poof out a large charge of ehated air. I usually leave the RF door open until I am ready to move out, then a short move in reverse and a slam on the brakes will close the door.

(5) If the A/c is putting out cool air, just not cool enough, do this: After starting the engine, run the blower fan on #4 for a half minute to blow out the heated air in the suctwork. Then switch to #1 for a minute so the a/c can chill the metal in the evaporator. Move to #2 or #3 and see if the air is coo enough.

(6) If the a/c blows just hot, try to maintain speed over 35mph, and have the two Right side windows open, left side closed. Sets up a sort of whirlwind inside the cabin. When stopped, run RF and LF windows all the way down and either hope for a breeze or run the fan. Running the fan when moving faster seems to destroy the whirlwind effect.

Well, this is a lot longer than I though it would be, and maybe more that you wanted. Our 1984 240DL blew the compressor en route to El Paso and my daughter survived that summer there OK, so I know it can be survived.

Good Luck with the conversion, I am on the same track. Good thing we have Chris Herbst (and other gurus) on the BBRD.

Regards,

Bob

:>)

It's easy to replace, get the Volvo factory conversion kit and it comes with a new evaporator, far cheaper than buying the evapurator seperately.

The evaporator is not too bad to replace..you come in from the passenger's side. I just redid the AC from R12 to R134 on my 83 and it was not as difficult as replacing the blower motor. If you've done one of these, the AC conversion will be a piece of cake. BTW, get the original Volvo conversion kit from someone like FCPGroton ( about $200). It will be worth it. I've tried the other junky kits and it was just that, JUNK.
buena suerte,
el Raidman