Looks like Ive come full circle. I kind of feel like a cat chasing his tail.
This is copy of email I got from Nostalgic air yesterday:

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 5:38 PM ( 1 day 20 hours ago ) Text view
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From sales@nostalgicairparts.com [Add]
To olsbg44@fastmail.fm
Subject RE: Message From nostalgicairparts Show full header

Lawrence,

I do not want to get into a big discussion about the a/c compressors output, and or performance, but I will let you know that I have never been able to use a 709 on a Volvo. The hoses on the 709 do not sit far enough behind the compressor to clear whatever sits above the compressor. As for one being better then the other, it is a rhetorical statement. If the temperature out of the vents is 35 degrees with the original kiki diesel compressor, it would seem unlikely that a different model compressor will be able to do much better. A system can only get as cold as 32 degrees in the evaporator box before the water from condensation will freeze up. Also a compressor will not have any bearing on the temperature of the air coming from the vents. A compressor is a pump it cannot perform any other function then moving the oil and the refrigerant through the system.

We do not have any 709 Sanden compressor that will work on a Volvo, we are one of the largest Sanden rebuilders in the South and stock all 200 different varieties of the compressor.

Thanks for asking

Jon

Maybe they're(nostalgia air) attempting to prevent a stampede away from the more expensive diesel kiki, or maybe they dont want to get heavily into the kind of mods that you describe. Or perhaps there is a lack of creativity on their part?. Maybe they've just never thought about moving the amm. something that would seem easy enough to do (As long as we're not talking about cutting a hole in the hood)(smile and snicker here).

Id love to know where to find some extensive plain talk about the 240 ac system.

Thank you much

Lawrence