Well I at last got the A/C working on my '91 Carat today and I am very
pleased with the results.  I had originally planned on converting my system
to R-134a from R-12.  I changed all the o-rings, replaced the high pressure
line (it blew upon initial fill up of R-134a), changed all the oil over to
ester oil, all that good stuff.  Alot of work as the overhead A/C duct
decided to do the domino effect when we lowered the rear unit.  A real pain
in the rear.
Having mediocre results with other R-134a conversions I changed my mind and
used Freeze-12 instead.  Added it until the pressures were right for ambient
temps (about 4 cans) and it works excellent!  On a 91 degree day with high
humidity I was getting 52 degree cool air out of the duct above the driver's
head!  Also this stuff goes in alot quicker than R-134a (usually takes me
15-20 mins per can unless I stick the can in warm water, while Freeze-12
takes me 15-20 mins to charge the entire system).

So now my wife can drive to Walmart in semi-comfort.  Also replaced the
shocks today with new Boges.  Pleased with the results.  Boges must be pretty
good quality as the original Boges were all still good except one (passenger
side front) and my van has 160k miles on the clock.  That one bad shock was
giving me the rocking boat effect when I went over bumps.
FYI I sell these shocks for $50 each for the 2wd Vanagons- front and $75 each
for the rears.
Now we're riding smooth and cool!
Ken Wilford
Van-Again
John 3:16