My A/C doesn't work. When we were trying to find out why we came across the little screen filter in the expansion valve(not sure if thats what it is called.The metal piece thats attached to the firewall on the drives side) was stopped up. Cleaned it out and it was cold air till it stopped up again. After further searching we noticed that the inside if the lines are in bad shape. So my question is this. How hard is it to change out all the parts except the compressor. We know it works. Just have gunk inside the lines. I found a place to get all the parts for around $250. Thank you.

 

How hard?

It's within the realm of typical DIYer mechanics, I'd say. Sounds like the system is already open so warning about the dangers of freon not needed.

Replace the expansion valve, too. Only $25 or so; almost a generic part. Be careful here. Don't twist the pipe off while removing the valve!

What's the gunk look like? Any metallic bits at all? look closely ! If so, you're compressor might not be as good as you think.

Often a/c systems can be flushed

Cheers
DD

 

I would replace the compressor, condenser, drier, expansion valve and install new lines plus flush the evaporator...too much junk in circulation. System is contaminated. False economy to just do half the job.

 

You will probably get a significantly lower price if you simply remove the hoses and take them to a local hydraulic shop to be remade using the old fittings. Last time I checked, a local shop quoted me about $75.

Be extremely careful removing the hose from the evaporator.

 

in Ford-speak, it is called "Black Death". Although there are no expansion valves in fords, only Orifice tubes, the result is the same.

in other words, the compressor is causing the sludge You will need to dismantle and replace everything a/c in the engine compartment. The Condenser might be flushable, but everything else? replace it. Don't waste money on flushing the system, you will only move sludge from one place to another, and you don't want to create a blockage at the Evaporator, because then you might just buy another XJ-6.

 

Thank you for your advice. I will just go ahead and replace all components because I don't want to do anything to this car half way. Thank you.

 

I rebuilt my entire A/C system including the compressor, dryer, condenser, expansion valve, hoses. I skipped the evaporator for some obvious reasons. No crud in my system. I dealt with the folks at coldhose.com and they were EXCELLENT for all my parts. I highly recommend them.


https://coldhose.com/

 

there is a new design Harrison compressor being sold by Retro Air in Dallas, and a complete upgrade rebuild kit including everything for $990.00. I'm a complainer about price but this price is decent considering the Condenser alone is expensive by itself.

I know the owner Rock Browning, great guy to work with. He also designs a/c systems for the early Saloons like Mk-2 and S type.

check the upgrade here:

Jaguar XJ6, S3 Air Conditioning Upgrade Kit | RetroAir, Inc.