Any thoughts on the use of the alternative hydrocarbon refrigerants in place of R12 in my old '82? I've read some about the disappointments with R134a and it seems that some of these alternatives would actually be an improvement over either of the freons. One route I'm considering is: replace my compressor with a functioning York, go for a new drier, maybe some new hoses, clean the rest, and run something like EnviroSafe in place of the R12. Thanks in advance for any advice!

HC's are dangerous.
The HC refrigerents are under review because they are being considered a worse environmental hazard than R12. (that's info from a chain parts house, not my own)
HC's wreak havok on metals (which your A/C system contains many types of).

If a coustomer's system has HC's in it, I can't and won't service it. I have a tester that will tell me it's 134a, R12 or a mix (those cost extra, I can't recycle the r12 in such case). It will also tell me if HCs are present. If they are, I won't touch it. MANY places won't, something to think about if you ever travel in super hot weather and don't carry everything you need to repair any and every part that can go wrong in your car.

Check out this interesting reading; http://www.autoacforum.com/MACS/HCwarning.pdf , and the name of the last sponsoring company.
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Gary Gilliam Sumerduck VA, '94 940 na Regina 150k, '86 240 180k

I tried one of them, freeze 12 I think it was in my '84...all leaked out in a week. Switched to r134a, worked great, had to add a little a year later
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '86 740 GLE turbo diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD for sale