Thanks guys for the info.
I went back to autozone, and found that an adapter for an old R12
auto system would fit both the 1/4 inch fridge fitting and the quick release.
I just needed to remove the valve stem. only problem now is when I remove
the fitting, it seems to blow some refrigerant. I can't tell if this is because the
valve stem in the fitting is stuck a bit or if its because of the refrigerant in the
hose. Yes, the system is turned off before removing.
But the key is, its now working somewhat and we'll see in the morning how cold
the box gets.
Rick