quote:Originally posted by accobra:
... I'm not a pencil neck engineer ...
...be that as it may...the two seals you need to worry about in the Pantera are the connections at the compressor. All the other connections are European metric versions of JIC male and female threaded hose end fittings.
In fact they may be US JIC or SAE fittings I don't remember. I do have an extra set under the bench in the shop and can check if you make me and I HAVE TO
If you go to the rotary compressor then you don't use those connections. The compressor as I recall will already have -8 and -10 JIC male nipples already on it.
Yes R12 is absolutely the best for this system.
I've been running 134a in R12 systems with no other changes since about 1992 or so.
The only draw back I see, if it is even a drawback is that 40 to 42 degrees F is the coldest I can get it to blow out of the register vs. about 34 degrees for R12.
I think what the answer is in the Pantera is simply that the cabin is so small, if you install the hot water shut off valves, that a 30% larger capacity isn't really needed.
It does exist because of the late model Panteras and it is your money if you want to buy them but I thought the term NEEDED was mentioned in the question