In my eternal quest for colder A/C (mine isn't working at all right now-see below), I've considered the possibility of swapping in a different, more efficient compressor and fitting a larger condenser. I don't know how practical this is, or if it can even be done on a moderate budget and without A/C expertise. I'm assuming that the stock A/C system is not proprietary since it uses (to the best of my knowledge) all 3rd party components. So it seems to me that this could be done, perhaps with parts scrounged from the yards.

I think that my '86 has a York compressor, but I'm not certain. Preliminary research on the 'net indicates that this compressor (or variants thereof) was used on several US cars in the mid-80s as well. They seem to be popular with the 4x4 crowd, in fact my query returned several links to Jeep sites. I'm guessing that the domestics used a different (bigger?) compressor, because I don't see very many complaints about inadequate cooling. Does anyone know which vehicles in the yard would have this compressor? Thinking full-size Ford/GM boats.

What about other brands of compressors?

Condensers...bigger is better? I believe that my mechanic retained the original factory condenser when he did the r134a conversion. My (admittedly limited) understanding is that the condensers designed for r12 systems have less flow capacity and may not work properly with the new refrigerant. I've also read about "parallel flow" condensers that supposedly double flow capacity. Has anyone experimented with one of these? Could I install a small electric fan in front of the existing condenser to improve cooling? How would I supply power to it?

I remember reading about a new kind of orifice tube on the BB a couple months back, but someone mentioned that it wouldn't work with my system because I have an expansion valve and would require a major retrofit.

Sorry for all of the questions. Hoping that someone who has "been there, done that" can shed some light on it.

I can't accept the fact that our A/C systems are totally hopeless! ;-)