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Message: <blockquote data-quote="someotherguy" data-source="post: 20504" data-attributes="member: 6178">Yeah, I figured with 4 vehicles to maintain in the Texas heat, as well as the need to do the full A/C rebuild on the '93 to replace bad components and simultaneously upgrade to all the parts spec'd for a '94 so it's "R134a from go" - it seemed like a good idea to go ahead and invest in a vacuum pump and a gauge set. Almost half a lifetime ago I had just embarked on the journey of learning automotive A/C figuring it might be a decent specialty for a young man to earn a few bucks at, then at the same time, Texas decided to regulate A/C techs and require that you get licensed, and own a $2500+ recovery machine.  This was.. late 80's?  I was a broke teenager with no hopes of swinging a $2500+ investment in 1988 dollars.  So instead of being a shady side-job type, I gave up on the plan for the time being.  I had learned *just enough* to be dangerous, studying from an old AC Delco A/C service book my mechanical mentor/mad scientist buddy Dennis had given me, and here 35 years later I'd forgotten most of it so I had to do some quick re-learning.It's definitely paid off as a small investment to get the '93 from inop A/C to nice and cold fully functioning A/C without the use of any conversion fittings, all new parts including the condenser and evaporator core.  Then being able to service the '06 SS when the service ports were found to be leaking, and later when I thought the SS's compressor had grenaded so I opened the system up to check/replace the orifice tube.  I think the pump and gauges have absolutely paid for themselves already.[ATTACH=full]1510[/ATTACH]Richard</blockquote>