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>However, you MAY not have to have them replaced. Yes, R134 will
'seep' through the old 'non->barrier' hoses but it may only be a can or so a
year, ie 5 bucks. Elijah Scott kept his original hoses on >his
converted 71 Imp and just puts a can in when the air starts to get warmer.
Well I guess there is a first time for
everything.... I can't believe it but I disagree with Kerry.
A/C hoses are subjected to pressures over 200psi
and heat extremes that can make even the most wonderful rubber weak after 30
years. These hoses are very similar to brake hoses in that you can not
just look at them and tell what condition they are in.
A couple of years ago I was charging the system on
a gm product and as I was removing the third can from the charging hose the high
pressure line blew out. The cloud of 134a (mostly oil vapor I would
imagine) was unbelievable. Higher than the trees and obscured the car.
High pressure was hovering around the 200 mark at that point. It scares me
to think what could have happened if blew only a few seconds earlier while I was
bent over it.
I didn't follow my own advice on my '73 last year
and charged it up with the old hoses in place. A couple of months ago I
noticed a bubble on one of the hoses. Unfortunately when we went out
in her Sunday there was no air. Checked under the hood and their was only
a giant oily spot where the bubble had been :-(
Save yourself some money and be safe...
Replace those old cooling and brake hoses before they bite you.
Steve B.
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