[Bubblehead]

Hi Tom,

Warning: I don't really know what I'm talking about, I only have opinions I enjoy sharing.

$2600 is a lot of money. If you are willing to do some work on your own, you can save some serious cash. Mechanically, it is my opinion that there are only a few steps in the process that require professional tools and expertise (vacuum empty the system and initial fill). Electrical stuff is more challenging, but the rest you can do yourself, if inclined. I would recommend an iterative approach, fixing the big problems first then working on the smaller ones until you are satisfied. Buy a condenser fan used on Pelican or fix the one you have (don't even need the system drained for that).
If you can hold out until the temperature drops, I'd leave the system depressurized, replace the expansion valve with a new one, replace or rebuild the compressor myself, and fix any obvious issues. Have a shop vacuum and charge the system up and give it a shot.
I have an '89 coupe that has been converted to R-134a, with a minor leak somewhere in the system that I am living with in the short term. In the long term, I plan on finding and fixing the leak(s). I will be rebuilding the compressor this winter ($40 kit) and replacing the drier (another $40), then have the system refilled at a shop. In the meantime, since this refrigerant is available over the counter, I can recharge the system myself as the need arises. A can of refrigerant is 12.99, and the recharge process takes only a few minutes once you learn how to do it safely. This approach doesn't last forever, as the system will eventually have enough air and non-condensable gases in it to stop working efficiently.
Take a look at the work people have done on the Pelican site.
- Derrick