Over the last few days after work I have been trying to convert my 1993 crew cab conversion to R134a refrigerant. AC systems are like Greek to me, but only one way to learn I guess. I swapped out my drier, and flushed out the hoses, compressor and condensor. Put in all new gaskets and O-rings.

When I tightned the hoses onto the drier it seemed like the mating surfaces weren't parallel - the hose/orifice/thick part of the gasket is on one side, but the nut you use to tighten the flanges together is off to the other side. The gasket appears to be the same kind as the one which came out originally. When I tried to pull a vacuum on the system there was a large leak. After double checking everything, I clamped the hoses flanges/mating surfaces on the drier on the side opposite of the studs, and waddya know, it holds a good vacuum now. Am I doing something wrong? Here is a pic showing the drier, from above, with the vice grips on helping to hold the side away from the nuts/studs. Any advice?

 

those are a bear. Nylog was recommended to me when I had the same problem . It worked and helped me discover the leak at the hoses
That and aftermarket stuff is junk