With the problems with my right hand and the possibility of surgery in the future, I started prioritizing what I wanted/needed to get done. Pretty high on the list was getting the AC working in the truck.

The truck came with AC and the system was even still pressurized after sitting 10 years in the shed. I had to relocate the condenser forward to make room for the radiator and though it was pretty tight in the end worked out OK. I had already flushed the components, added new oil and all I really needed to do was have a couple of hoses made up and install a new receiver dryer.





Everything went pretty well……I had the usual aggravations about waiting on the right fittings I needed and having the hoses crimped etc but I got everything buttoned up and ready to charge. That was going pretty well too…….clear up until the condenser decided to rupture. I’m not sure what happened, I hadn’t even gotten up to 100 PSI on the high side yet, so I was still well under the operating pressure so who knows (I’m figuring with internal corrosion from sitting or possibly I nicked that tube during the installation). Anyway the rupture occurred on the radiator side of the condenser with the engine running so all the refrigerant and oil sprayed right into the fan where it was evenly deposited all over the engine compartment.




I always figured it was factory AC in the truck (it sure looked like it), but when I started looking for a new condenser for it I’m beginning to think is a very good dealer installed unit. The condenser in the truck looks nothing like the one shown in the parts book or (thru any supplier) and the compressor is a Sanden 508 instead of the Chrylser unit it’s supposed to have.

After striking out finding a condenser like the one in the truck which would have made life so much easier I ended up digging up one from an earlier Ram 50. It’s small enough to fit (and they are still available new if the used one I have doesn’t work out), but is just enough different that I have to rework my mounting brackets and have one of the new hoses re-done again. Oh well, with any luck I should have it back together again in the next day or two.


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