SNIP The issue with the hoses is that R-134a molecules are small enough to bleed through them. It was the late 80's when the industry started switching to barrier type hoses which don't have this problem. SNIP A good friend of mine kept me abreast of the happenings during this time era here in the valley of the sun as discoveries were being made. As a side bar to this subject the outfit that supplied him with replacement compressors for A/C compressor repairs finally sent a representative out to talk to him. The subject, why was he the only customer of theirs that was NOT sending compressors back as defective? While the issues of the hoses and the smaller molecular structure of R-134 is true, the real world was demonstrating that the existing hoses in use were permeated so heavily that there porosity was no longer an issue and the systems would hold a long term charge providing of course gaskets were good. The only comment I can make to this as I am pretty much experiencing the same phenomenon my self. If the A/C unit has spent many years as defective due to lack of pressure, the only problems I have seen trying to bring it back alive using r-134 was gasket blowing due to the fact that they were dried out. Once all the gaskets are fixed, the hoses have not given any problems. Of course they are inspected prior to use for damage and if found replaced or rebuilt as required. The heat and the sun (UV) do a number on rubber around here. Snip Also, in the case of anything sold new in the US or Canada as a Rambler, the factory hoses are old enough where they're likely bad by now anyway. SNIP Well----------that can be a value judgment, the newest 134 conversion I have done is a 1992, the oldest is a 1975 and the hoses were re-used after inspection. My A/C had better work, I spent 6 hours in the car today and it 112 F in the afternoon. That is not a good time to drive around with a defective A/C. John. _______________________________________________ AMC-List mailing list AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list or go to http://www.amc-list.com