I picked up a pretty sweet runner and saved it from the bone yard yesterday. The A/C system in the truck is shot, the hoses were left open for some time, I am going to replace everything but the evaporator and hope all goes well. The truck actually came with brand new in the box, a COMPLETE A/C system hoses, engine brackets etc etc etc. My question is, I have the 1990 compressor and engine bracket off of the truck right now, the 93-95 compressor takes a completely different belt all together and the bracket it self makes the compressor sit back out where it should since the pulley set up on the 88-92 compressor is noticeably longer. Has anyone ever retrofitted a newer AC system onto their older 3V? It looks like everything will bolt up as long as I change the pulley on the crank and the and the fan over to the serp belt style instead of the old school Vbelt, anyone following this?

Well in case anyone else is wondering so far you can, all I have had to do so far was extend the power wire for the clutch, bolt on the 93-95 engine bracket, on the compressor itself I had to switch the tops that are held down with the 4 allen head bolts with each other because the newer 93-95 cap would not work with the 88-92 lines, so far all I need now is a crank pulley to convert to the serp type belt instead of v-belt

What type freon is going into the system? Mine needs Freeze12 to get it working again.Otherwise I have to pay 1200$ to get a new R134 freon system retrofitted.

Look around and talk to local mic a nics and one may have a jug of r-12 in the back......

Repo

why would it cost 1200 for a 134a conversion, you can still fill the evacuate the system and fill, there are conversion fittings you can put on the old r12 lines

Just going by what I was told.Meineke guy told me he cant hook up the charge machine to my old system and even if he could my compressor would lock up with R134 in it.

I'm going to have to dig out my HVAC books and do some research for us all, I know for a fact there are conversion fittings out there, and as far as compressor lock up I'm not so sure on that but i'll see

Your Meineke guy is a weenie. You can do the conversion fairly easily, and way cheaper than he is talking.
1) Good discussion: http://www.aa1car.com/library/retrofit.htm
2) Good supplier: http://www.ackits.com/
3) The fittings are about 25 bucks for both