I've done this conversion lots of times. even on my wife's 93 taurus ( it gets colder than my 03 taco) you just change the "O" rings and use the Synthetic Ester oil (made by castrol ) its compatable with just about everything. and recharge the system with 10% less refridgerant and check it for leaks . I beleive that all those warnings that were first put out about switching were just to scare you off until the R12 stock piles were used up . By the way I'm a mechanic by trade

 

bump about this question I have about COOLTOP, the stuff on this link. Has anyone tried it? It seems pretty cool, I would think some of the people in Arizona and other hot states would have tried it.

 

I got this A/C additive called Ice-32 added to my system. You can read up on it at www.ice32.com Their literature says it will drop the air temp 10 degrees. Mine dropped 8, but it does get colder quicker than it used to, which is a major plus for an El Paso-an. And you can definitely tell the diffreence. Bad part is that it costed me about $70..

 

Hello Pal..
I'm done with my swap project [ you can see the key words" windancer4x4 swap 2003 4.0L V6 1GR-FE into a '92 3.0L V6 3VZ-E] Now A/C works and filled with R134. I did not change any other thing from the old system which used to use R12!! The system is not cooling -almost- at all!! What's the best thing to go about this with less headache and effective cooling. I live in a hot and humid weather...
Pls. reply to me fakri@usa.com and/or windancer4x4@yahoo.com

Many thanks..

 

Old thread but I do have some new info to share. About 2 years ago I had to have the AC repaired due to a slow leak. I took it to an ASE certified place and they wanted to do an R134a conversion. Reason was that to repair the slow leak properly, It would cost a ton of money. This way, they convert it, charge it up and when it looses charge again, I could charge it myself or take it back to them. They used the origional evaporator, dryer and compressor and hoses. Im not sure how they did the conversion but to this day it blows COLD, even in 95 degree Ga weather.

 

Thanks Williemon.. to 2nd your talk, I only changed the expansion valve and charged the system with R134a having al else the same and it did blow cold air...it was still PARKED.. still needed to run a prolonged test with the truck on the road [should be even coooooler!!] to make sure the sensor works fine and the compressor runs on and off dependent on the thermostat and temp seting.

Williemon.you gotta see my SWAP.. the first of its kind so far!! I did install a 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 from a 2003 prado (or 4Runner) into my 1992 4X4 p/u truck replacing the old 3VZ-E 3.0L V6...serach with my name windancer4x4 and you will see it..

Thanks for your input .