Texas is HOT! How did you get your A/C to work?

[Critter]

Well...Texas will be hot in another month or two at least. I have seen a lot of posts on this site where people have returned their A/C to working order, but there seams to be more than one way to skin a cat. Everything from full kits from aftermarket companies, factory style replacement parts, GM updated parts, etc. I would eventually like to get mine going but I have to admit it is pretty far down on the list of things to do. My question is this, how did “you” get you’re A/C back to work? Personally I would like to use as much of my factory system as possible. I am not opposed to getting a different style compressor (sanden) and maybe updating the dryer/expansion valve type parts with new style GM parts, say, from the 73-87 generation. What is everyone else’s opinion? Pics are appreciated of course.