1980 Firebird formula York ac compressor

[JJ1777]

I got this Firebird left to me by my great uncle who bought it brand new and it had 30k on odometer when he parked back in 1997 and I’ve had it running the last two years now slowly fixing little things here and there and now I’m to the ac. Both hoses on the ac condenser have rub thru marks but it has a York ac compressor on it, like the style people make onboard air compressors out of so I’m kind of at a loss on how to get parts to fix it and keep it original

[B52bombardier1]

See if the people at "Classic Auto Air", "Original Air", "Vintage Air" or "Nostalgia Air" can rebuild or maybe supply as new that compressor.  Get your hoses changed out to a modern "barrier hose" material - the R134A refrigerant molecules are smaller (and leakier) than R12 molecules.  The dashboard AC & heat control assembly vacuum lines probably also need to be replaced and these places can refurbish the entire assembly.

Have one of these places calibrate your AC's POA (pilot operated absolute) assembly for best efficiency with R134A unless you are staying with R12.

Consider going to a modern parallel flow condenser for best efficiency with removing heat from the hot refrigerant. A small, electric pusher fan in front of my condenser bought me another 2-3 degrees F of cooling at the center vent.

You will need a new receiver-dryer  / accumulator. And a new expansion valve.

In any case, everything will need to be flushed out to remove all traces of old compressor oil and any metal shards from your failed York compressor. Generally speaking, its difficult to thoroughly clean up the internal condenser tubing and to get many years of dead bugs / dirt out of the fins.  Most people buy the largest - best for shedding heat - condenser that will fit in front of the radiator core support. Being able to remove the maximum amount of heat from the hot refrigerant inside the condenser is crucial to good AC cooling.  The meat thermometer stuck into the center vent of my 70 Chevy El Camino indicates 38-40 degrees F here in summertime Louisiana after a few minutes with my R134A system. If it was much colder than this at the center vent, the evaporator would be icing up - not good.  

I think your AC system was likely built by a company called "Harrison" and most parts or a suitable substitute should still be available.

Rick

[JJ1777]

Thankyou on the info, I’ve been lost on it for a good minute since I’ve been trying to find the parts and nothing matches and I know care was bought like this from dealership cause I have all that paperwork but it doesn’t say they added the ac or put a universal aftermarket kit on it in 1980

[B52bombardier1]

Where are you from in Kentucky?  I'm originally from Owensboro. Born a little south of there in Muhlenberg County.  And hey - I'm wearing shoes almost every day now.

Rick

[JJ1777]

Bardstown and Lebanon is where I’m at, shoes are least of my worries just trying to get my kids to wear something other than just underwear outside is hard part for me lol