Forum

Forum Forum

1990 Thunderbird

by bradtothebone on Jul 31 2017, 11:04 PM

I have a 1990 Ford Thunderbird that calls for R12. I know R134 won't work. I found on Amazon some R12 that stated it would work in this system. It is worth trying or should I have the conversion done?

You must be signed in to reply or vote on this post.

7 Replies

By thomas.costanza Sep 12 2017, 12:11 PM

it depends on what you are doing with the car, it sounds old so either it's ready to be scrapped or restored. if it is not being restored, 80 % fill and ester oil. will do fine. if it is being restored. take the long way home and properly retrofit system good luck

Sign in to vote 0
By 1962impala Sep 11 2017, 10:40 PM

i would retro fit the system with R134A and change the fittings,compressor and drying unit.

Sign in to vote 1
By jeffreyd1 Sep 09 2017, 10:00 PM

I would convert it. R-12 is difficult to get a hold of these days & is only getting more expensive. If you have good hoses & seals, the molecular size difference makes an insignificant difference. R-134a is slightly less efficient, but will definitely be able to keep you cool. The conversion works just fine. I would not trust Freeze-12 or any of the other blends.

Sign in to vote 1
By captain obvious Sep 08 2017, 3:25 AM

convert it. the fords responded very well to the conversions when done properly. make sure you change the accumulator, oriface tube, and install the proper fittings. pull a good vacuum on the system, then charge her up. i've never had a problem getting fords to perform as well as r12 when converted....sometimes even better.

Sign in to vote 1
By shadetreetech Aug 09 2017, 2:54 PM

If you can keep it R12! If you convert it it will always have some leakage as the molecules in R134 are smaller and will slowly leak from the system!

Sign in to vote 0
By jzgrandnational Aug 09 2017, 2:36 AM

Also do not forget that the capacity for R-134A is about 80% of R-12, you do not want to over charge it.

Sign in to vote 0
By vicioussixx Aug 01 2017, 12:05 PM

Just go ahead and do the conversion. I am thinking it is probably the Freeze 12 that was popular a few years back. Did not go very well. Change out the filter drier, orifice tube, and flush out all the old oil and freon as it does not mix.

Sign in to vote 0