A/C compressor replacement/upgrade

[gramps77]

This past summer, while trying to replace the belts, I found that there had been a repair at a seam on the original A/C compressor on my 77. How did I find said repair? I could hear the refrigerant leaking out and when I pinpointed it, I realized that part of the seam didnt match the rest of it. My question is, would one of the newer radial compressors work better and if so, what kind of an issue would it be for replacement? The system also had the old R-12 in it and Im thinking of going ahead and swapping over to 134.
Its to bad, it worked pretty well for not having been used in 5 years.

[gramps77]

Im sure someone else has done this. Should I stick with R12?

[dmartin1]

i ditched the old heavy long ac compressor i had,got a V-belt pully ran ac compressor off of a 1991 suburban in the junkyard and fabbed it up with an old sbc alternator bracket, looks like a banana.and another bracket to the exhaust bolt to eliminate vibrations.

it blows wayyy colder then the old one.

it is 134. I imagine it oculd be fabbed up with any ac compressor and custom brackets.

IDK if that helps,but i thought id chime in

[hatzie]

The Harrison A6 is pretty rugged. If it's not making noises I'd reseal/replace it, pull a vauum overnight, and re-charge with R12 or your favourite hydrocarbon.
http://home.swipnet.se/emod/Cad/HarrisonA6/index.html