need a lesson in A/C

From what I've seen, converting to r134 with original equipment can suck, and no matter what you'll want to get a condensor designed for r134. Personally I wouldn't mess with trying to get it fixed and filled with freon.

I think Mancini and others sell a bracket to convert to a Sanden style compressor. I did this on my '79 C10 -

New compressor brackets
New Sanden style compressor
New custom lines, I cut the hoses, had a local shop crimp the fittings, and used a couple bend it yourself al. hard lines to make it all complete
New factory accumulator
New cross flow condensor

That's about it. Probably cost me around $600 and it blows ice cold. It does warm up a bit sitting still, thinking about adding an elec fan as a helper for heavy traffic, although I don't drive it THAT much so it's not a huge concern for me.

Bought a harbor freight vacuum pump and manifold gauge set, well worth it, I can now service my own AC systems and after a bit of reading it's not all that difficult.