240 Volvo AC R-134a Conversion
1990 Volvo 244 AC Conversion With Factory Kit
This is about installing the Volvo retrofit kit for 1975-1990 conversion from R-12 to R-134a. The kit includes fittings for quick-connect charging hoses, O-rings for compatibility, a new evaporator, receiver/drier, compressor discharge hose, replacement Ester oil, butyl insulating tape, and expansion valve.
If this link still works, it has the story of my efforts and eventual failure to effect this conversion: brickboard post
Link to retrofit instructions mentioned in post: Bulletin 87-217
To disassemble evaporator, the old butyl tape must be removed.
Gloves are a must with this gooey stuff.
Seen under the goo are the clamps holding the thermostat and expansion valve
sense tubes to the evaporator outlet, and the expansion valve bypass connection.
Getting the old evaporator out was a lot of work. It was wedged in tight.
Once the box was cleaned up, the new evap slid right in easily.
Used the butyl tape provided in the kit to re-insulate the evaporator outlet plumbing. The instructions warn against insulating the expansion valve.
Left headlight assembly must be removed to route the new discharge hose.
The kit did not include service port adapters for the compressor, but a tee fitting that was supposed to be fit at the receiver drier. I could not figure out how to make the fill port work at the liquid line. Found adapters and more O-rings at Walmart.
My recovery hose would not fit correctly without this modification. I found out later, most shops install a suction hose with a service port adapted into a tee fitting where it can be more easily reached.
Had to see what was in the old receiver.
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