A/C condenser repair vs. replace

[Randall K.]

Just found that my A/C condenser on my '72 454 has a leak in the upper tubes where they pass through the steel frame (see the circle in the attached picture).

Is this repairable? Is it advisable to repair, or should I bite the bullet and replace it?

Also - is it really necessary to remove the hood to remove the condenser? It appears that there should be room to slide the condenser up, as long as I'm careful not to damage the radiator.

Thanks
Randy

[Dick W.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

Fergidabout repairing it. Aluminum, when new and clean is repairable, but after 40 years, oil seeping thru the leak, internal/external corrosion, a repair ain't gonna hold, if you could even find someone that would attempt it.

[Randall K.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

Kinda what I thought, although I'm not sure this was an original condenser. Even if not, probably the same issues with oil, corrosion, etc....

AIM shows original P/N of 3949932, which I believe crosses into Delco service part 15-662 ?

Any favorite vendors out there for condensers?

Any opinions on hood removal for this?

Thanks
Randy

[Dick W.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

Kinda what I thought, although I'm not sure this was an original condenser. Even if not, probably the same issues with oil, corrosion, etc....

AIM shows original P/N of 3949932, which I believe crosses into Delco service part 15-662 ?

Any favorite vendors out there for condensers?

Any opinions on hood removal for this?

Thanks
Randy

Lot easier to remove hood. Just scribe around the hinge when you take it off and you should have no problems re-installing it. There is a minor difference in the original condenser and the replacement. The original had a rectangular block where the tubes came together at the top, the replacement does not have this block. It has been at least 30 years since the correct condensor was manufactured. Good time for an R-134a conversion. You need to replace the drier when you replace the condensor, just change the O rings on the condensor, the drier should have the correct material O rings. Upgrade the oil and you are in business

[Norris W.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

Lot easier to remove hood. Just scribe around the hinge when you take it off and you should have no problems re-installing it.

Or you could just outline the hinges with masking tape. Those nasty NCRS judges might bump you all the way to 3rd Flight for scribe marks around the hinges.

[Terry M.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

You shouldn't need to scribe the hinges unless the car has been improperly restored.

At St Louis hinges were installed and aligned before the black-out operation. That resulted in a nice black paint outline around the proper hinge position. If the car was properly restored the same nice black outline should be in place.

Now if Bubba did the hood/hinge black-out in the improper order -- you will pay the price. Good luck with the scribe.

[Domenic T.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

Randal,
I welded rubbed thru holes on A/c aluminum as the corrosion is visable from the outside as A/C oil is kind to aluminum inside.

After cleaning when I weld the aluminum I also run my argon thru the lines as I am welding to keep the oxidation from forming inside the tube.

Now my local A/C shop that makes my hoses said they were unable to weld the proper ends on some hoses I needed made, so now I do all that in the shop as that aluminum welds easy because it doesn't have all the alloys other aluminum has in it.

DOM

[Randall K.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

If only I knew how to weld... or had a friend as skillful as you...

The local shop also said they were unable to fix. Don't know if either of the popular auto air places can do anything, but it's worth a call.

Randy

[Joe L.]

Re: A/C condenser repair vs. replace

Kinda what I thought, although I'm not sure this was an original condenser. Even if not, probably the same issues with oil, corrosion, etc....

AIM shows original P/N of 3949932, which I believe crosses into Delco service part 15-662 ?

Any favorite vendors out there for condensers?

Any opinions on hood removal for this?

Thanks
Randy

Randy------

GM #12490537, aka Delco #15-662, is the one you need.