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A.C. Condenser Question for you 73-74 Guys

Satellite72

Satellite72

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While I'm a 72 owner, I have a question for you 73-74 fellas, more specifically 73, regarding your air conditioning condensers. Several years ago I started getting serious about my factory air conditioning reinstated (to original - including R12), but the wife wanted to move....so that put that project off for a good while. With that said, I've found an old 73 4-door satellite custom that has been sitting in the same unlived-in residence for a long long time. I was considering finding the owner and offering them some money for their condenser based on whether or not its condition and fitment was applicable. Considering that my condenser is beyond reasonable repair, I was wondering if the condenser and A.C. components where identical or different between the 72-73 years or if I need to hold fast to locating a 72 specific condenser?

I've tried to search around for 73 pictures and have found a few conflicting combinations that lead me to question the accuracy of the arrangement. By that I mean; Receiver/dryer location may or may not be located in front of the condenser/radiator as opposed to the 72 being on the left hand side of the engine compartment....which essentially alters hoses and hook-up locations. Anyways, just curious if you might be able to shed some light on this or not.

Sadly, this is the best picture I've got of my 72 a pic that's several years old at that. Note the dryer location and condenser hook-up location. lines in/out of dryer-condenser are currently removed till time to flush and hood back up to the currently sealed dryer.
 
Satellite72 said:
View attachment 427253

While I'm a 72 owner, I have a question for you 73-74 fellas, more specifically 73, regarding your air conditioning condensers. Several years ago I started getting serious about my factory air conditioning reinstated (to original - including R12), but the wife wanted to move....so that put that project off for a good while. With that said, I've found an old 73 4-door satellite custom that has been sitting in the same unlived-in residence for a long long time. I was considering finding the owner and offering them some money for their condenser based on whether or not its condition and fitment was applicable. Considering that my condenser is beyond reasonable repair, I was wondering if the condenser and A.C. components where identical or different between the 72-73 years or if I need to hold fast to locating a 72 specific condenser?

I've tried to search around for 73 pictures and have found a few conflicting combinations that lead me to question the accuracy of the arrangement. By that I mean; Receiver/dryer location may or may not be located in front of the condenser/radiator as opposed to the 72 being on the left hand side of the engine compartment....which essentially alters hoses and hook-up locations. Anyways, just curious if you might be able to shed some light on this or not.

Sadly, this is the best picture I've got of my 72 a pic that's several years old at that. Note the dryer location and condenser hook-up location. lines in/out of dryer-condenser are currently removed till time to flush and hood back up to the currently sealed dryer.
Click to expand...

s-l1600 (14).jpg

Here's a pic of my '73. Hope it helps.
 
My 73 is a big block so there is some difference there. also many of the components were missing so I was more or less forced to upgrade to a newer system.
However the condenser should be available or able to be rebuilt/recored I would imagine.
S4019915.JPG
S4019921.JPG
 
Condenser is available new in aluminium around. I got it from ebay. Yes, 72 are with dryer into engine bay. While 73 and late are with mounts attached to the condenser itself. This is the same for SB or BB, just making difference in comoressor brackets and hoses lenghts on each setup for each year
 
Thanks gentleman, your pictures and responses were very helpful! They seem to confirm what I had suspected....that there is enough change from 72-73 that the condenser alone wouldn't be a direct swap without switching some refrigerant lines as well. From what I can observe, it appears that the high pressure lines/hoses are unique for 73-74 from its exiting the compressor all the way to the expansion valve. I'm guessing this change was directly related to the addition of the new overflow bottle in the corner (which my early 72 never had) and changing location for the windshield wiper fluid reservoir to behind the battery. I guess swapping all that would produce the same results, but perhaps I'm much better off going with the correct condenser.
 
Yes, this is mine now. Washer res is now on the other side as cruise control is in it's place.
Replaced the triangle compressor with the lighter Sanden from Classic Auto Air.
03.jpg
 
ODZKing said:
Yes, this is mine now. Washer res is now on the other side as cruise control is in it's place.
Replaced the triangle compressor with the lighter Sanden from Classic Auto Air.
View attachment 427543
Click to expand...

Hey Bob is that washer bottle the factory version, a dealer add-on or a generic aftermarket? I re-call the 73-74 B Body washer bottles for cars with CC looked like this (see pic).

washer bottle.jpg
 
Bob got the original and correct one for 73/74 CC cars. Can't tell about 75 and lates... maybe the one you show is for those
 
Last edited:
Yes, that is correct according to the part number and number stamped/embossed on the bottle for 73-4 WITH Speed Control.
If you give me the number on your bottle shown, I may be able to trace it to a year/car.
 
ODZKing said:
Yes, that is correct according to the part number and number stamped/embossed on the bottle for 73-4 WITH Speed Control.
If you give me the number on your bottle shown, I may be able to trace it to a year/car.
Click to expand...


Reservoir no. 3799055
Cover & cap no. 3799063
Assy. no. 3799056
Capacity 80 oz
 
Just curious but why would you retain an R12 system? Do you have a bunch of drums stashed away???
 
ODZKing said:
1975-79 Coronet, Charger, Charger SE, Cordoba, (small) B body Monaco, B body Fury. Found that in my collision book.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WINDSHIELD-...ash=item3d3c0dd339:g:DYEAAOSwtZJY--FN&vxp=mtr
Click to expand...


Thanks Bob. Well I thought I had a small treasure there. Funny thing is that I was going to put it up for sale and list it as a 1973-74 B Body washer bottle. Now it's headed for the trash after I pull the little motor off.

BTW any chance of having a link to an aftermarket washer bottle for 73-4 B w/cruise?

Good call Nacho on knowing your stuff.
 
Aftermarketwasher bottle or replacement repro?

No replacement repro washer bottle for CC 73/74 available and, per a debate we got at DC.com, seems they won't be.

I have an extra one that I will rid off once decide which one to use in my car when reassembling.
 
Mike67 said:
Just curious but why would you retain an R12 system? Do you have a bunch of drums stashed away???
Click to expand...

Although it's not completely necessary to use the original refrigerant, I'm leaning towards going with the R12 mainly for just a few small reasons; 1) I have about 12lbs of refrigerant given to me from my father-in-law from a 30lb container. 2) even though it's not used anymore and is for the most part expensive, it is still available on ebay and craigslist all the time...And lets face it, one of these days R134a will be phased out as well. 3) It works at lower pressures than R134a, so it would seam to be the most efficient refrigerant for a system that was originally designed for it (not to say that the R134a would be bad). Last but not least, even though I'm for the most part young, I have fond memories of ICE COLD air from all my parents old systems. Dad had an old Silverado, and it would freeze us out in the middle of July. The only thing about it though....I must make SURE that it holds a strong vacuum for a good period of time, otherwise I'm not wasting the R12 on something that may leak.
 
Understood, just to let you know that R12 has not been mfg in years. Most of what you are seeing is reclaimed refrigerant that has been "washed". And depending on the reclamation and recycler you could be getting some acid tainted product unless it states its virgin, which is required by law, I would be careful...
But thanks for the answer
 
'68 Charger said:
Thanks Bob. Well I thought I had a small treasure there. Funny thing is that I was going to put it up for sale and list it as a 1973-74 B Body washer bottle. Now it's headed for the trash after I pull the little motor off.

BTW any chance of having a link to an aftermarket washer bottle for 73-4 B w/cruise?
Click to expand...
Bryan, I wouldn't toss it, list it in the 75-79 section. There are plenty of Magnum/Cordoba folks looking for parts. I doubt they are being repoped. If you really are going to toss it, I can give it to the fellow in our club that has a 77 Charger.
I had a line on 2 of them back when I needed one. Both are gone, well I bought one of them. The part number is 3431965.
Try that place in Washington, Collectors Auto I think.
 
ODZKing said:
Bryan, I wouldn't toss it, list it in the 75-79 section. There are plenty of Magnum/Cordoba folks looking for parts. I doubt they are being repoped. If you really are going to toss it, I can give it to the fellow in our club that has a 77 Charger.
I had a line on 2 of them back when I needed one. Both are gone, well I bought one of them. The part number is 3431965.
Try that place in Washington, Collectors Auto I think.
Click to expand...


Thanks Bob will do. I haven't tossed it yet. I was going to pull out the washer motor but looks like a PITA unless you take the top off in which I do not want to do because I will end up ruining it. I don't know why Chrysler didn't design the bottle to have the filling hole directly above where the motor sits for easy access. I might make a quickie garage made wrench to reach the plastic hex head nut. Do you know the wrench size on these motors.
 
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