Car resto air con pipes help needed

[marlinspike]

We took out the air con condenser of my 1992 Saab 900 to deal with rust in the engine bay. In trying to undo the bolt from the pipe to the condenser we actually snapped the pipe.

The rust is sorted. Is there anyway to replace the pipe? Replacement originals are expensive and hard to find. Welding it seems difficult and beyond our level of expertise.

I know nothing about air con systems. How do people go about it when they put air con in kit cars? Can you just buy the piping and bend it? Can you use flexible hose rather than piping?

Any ideas welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[MCKDAVID]

nip down to the local fridge techs place, show them the bits, and they'll probably be able to knock a replacement up out of copper. depends how original you want it, working or concours...

 

[piman]

Hello Marlinspike,

you are aware that it will need someone with the knowledge and equipment to vacuum your system then refill the gas once you replace the condenser

Alec?

 

[colnerov]

Hi, Go to an air con place that does plant or PSV work. They will be used to making up hoses and one off systems. They will may be suggest a universal condenser and hoses. They aren't DIY really because of the pressures involved in parts of the system.

Colin

 

[marlinspike]

Yes I realise the system would need re-gassing, though as the car had been stood for several years before we bought it, it would have probably have needed this anyway.

Thanks for the comments so far.

 

[scotb]

as im registered (IMI acredited) to work on air-con ,i wouldnt re-charge it . it will have absorbed so much moisture over the years that it will never be right. BTW,have you seen the damage an abused aircon system can do to a car? its one hell of a bang.......................