AC keep or not

[Drifter27_04]

Right now I am making a few changes to the car and removing the AC is one option I am nearing.

Any opinions what I should so as right now the AC has not been used and its just there if I want it and if I was going to us it I would have to spend the extra money to get a 2nd fan. I kinda what to remove it all so I can open up the front more for more airflow to the radiator. The thing I am really concerned about is how much trouble will it be and what is all included in removing the AC.

Please suggestion are more than welcome at this time

 

[Batman™]

The A/C is fairly simple to remove. There's a compressor on the back of the block, which is four bolts. Then you have the belt, just cut and throw away. You don't have to change any pulleys on the motor itself. The A/C Condenser is in front of the Radiator and is fairly uncomplicated to remove. Just look and you will see. As far as the lines, on the firewall there will be a bolt for each. Make sure to remove the low pressure line first. The way we usually do this is to poke the Schrader valve. If you get a big plume when you poke it, that's the high pressure side. Remove the low pressure side first and you won't have a mess on your hands. From there it's just removing the two bolts from the firewall, and then removing the two lines.

Hope that helped.

-Charlie

 

[Drifter27_04]

Yeah that helps and thanks

As for the lower pressure line I assume its the bottom line...correct. If I know that I have no freon in the system would it matter if the upper or lower comes off first.

Also do I not need to plug anything up?

 

[Batman™]

If you have no freon at all in the system, then no it doesn't make a lick of difference. As for plugging anything up... I didn't. The two ports that run through on the firewall as far as I'm concerned don't matter. They're not open to the enterior or anything. It's completely up to you in the end though.

 

[THE REAL DEAL]

i don't think it gets too hot in north carolina. i've had the A/C pulled from both my dsms. my girlfriend whines about it sometimes but i'd rather listen to her whine than have my motor overheat again. just make sure your fan(s) are hooked up and you keep them running by turning on the non-exsistant A/C.

 

[pnishr]

The thing I am really concerned about is how much trouble will it be and what is all included in removing the AC.

That depends on how much you really want to take out. If you want to pull it ALL out, it requires removing your dash and lots of other fun stuff. I did it all in 1 sat. But, it took almost all day by myself. The stuff under the dash and controls is about another 25lbs. Removing just the compressor and lines+condensor is only about 20-25.

 

[Drifter27_04]

That depends on how much you really want to take out. If you want to pull it ALL out, it requires removing your dash and lots of other fun stuff. I did it all in 1 sat. But, it took almost all day by myself. The stuff under the dash and controls is about another 25lbs. Removing just the compressor and lines+condensor is only about 20-25.

Thanks for the info...I am not going to worry about the stuff under the dash right at this time. I am generally wanting to do so to free up some power and "room" underneath the hood. Plus I want to get rid of the condenser also to get better air flow to the radiator.

 

[DirtyBirdRacing]

Also be careful not to get any of the coolant in your eyes, as I believe that you will become instantly blind. Someone told me that, so when I took out my A/C system I wore goggles and a face shield. Redundent, I know.

Bill

 

[MelloEclipse]

i don't think it gets too hot in north carolina. i've had the A/C pulled from both my dsms. my girlfriend whines about it sometimes but i'd rather listen to her whine than have my motor overheat again. just make sure your fan(s) are hooked up and you keep them running by turning on the non-exsistant A/C.

are you kidding me...it gets 100+ in the summer....not that it's THAT hot..but when you're talking 95% humidity...leave me in desert any day over NC. .

 

[Drifter27_04]

are you kidding me...it gets 100+ in the summer....not that it's THAT hot..but when you're talking 95% humidity...leave me in desert any day over NC. .

Isnt that the truth...

 

[MelloEclipse]

i mean really...it's 97 today...wtf

 

[RipperXX]

The A/C is fairly simple to remove. There's a compressor on the back of the block, which is four bolts. Then you have the belt, just cut and throw away. You don't have to change any pulleys on the motor itself. The A/C Condenser is in front of the Radiator and is fairly uncomplicated to remove. Just look and you will see. As far as the lines, on the firewall there will be a bolt for each. Make sure to remove the low pressure line first. The way we usually do this is to poke the Schrader valve. If you get a big plume when you poke it, that's the high pressure side. Remove the low pressure side first and you won't have a mess on your hands. From there it's just removing the two bolts from the firewall, and then removing the two lines.

Hope that helped.

-Charlie

One thing you failed to mention about this is the A/C bracket. It has been over a yr since I removed mine, but I recall there being a bracket that goes from the block to the AC to some crap on the driver side suspention. When I removed mine I put this bracket back on. BUT since the AC compressor is not there you have to shim it. I just used alot of washers.

 

[2gAWDTalon]

On a 1G the intermediate shaft bracket bolts through the AC bracket... On a 2G this is a non issue. If you have a 1G the best thing to do is to cut that tab off the bracket and install it there with the bolt that goes trough the intermediate shaft.

For the guy that says you will go blind, this is not true. I got some in my eye, but I would not recommend it. Eye protection FTW!

 

[DirtyBirdRacing]

For the guy that says you will go blind, this is not true. I got some in my eye, but I would not recommend it. Eye protection FTW!

Oh, alright sorry you had to find out.

Bill

 

[Drifter27_04]

Thanks you all I have looked over it all today and I am going to tackle it tomorrow evening or night thats if nothing comes up first. I was looking at the lines and still can not figure which one I need to take off first the lines on the driver side or passenger...I am guessing the driver sive as its te discharge side...correct me if this is not correct.

 

[RipperXX]

Oh yea, I did this to my car before I installed my FMIC. And I feel that this helps reduce coolant temps alot. Infact my car runs around 180* unless I am making a hard pull. Then maybe 185-188* And I only have one fan on my car And it's the A/C fan . The A/C makes for a nice toggle switch after you remove it.

 

[Drifter27_04]

I was running around 160-65 temps with the a/c unit and condenser installed with one 12" spal fan. And when I did a few hard pulls I seen 175 at times but honestly I never seen much of 180°+ anymore after I switch the thermostat to 170 and did the redline water wetter mixture. Also I give total credit to te fluidyne raditor.

With running a larger turbo setup now I am looking to decrease the temp some more for this factor also by removing the A/C and stuff.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

If/when you remove the AC, make sure to bring it to a place that can evac. the system because you have R-12 in your system( pre 94), and this stuff is poisonous if you breath it in. Once the system is emptied you can just cut the lines, then remove any bolt's needed to be removed. I removed mine last summer, and I have to say it cleans up the engine bay so much, and Im sure I would have seen temp's drop if I wasnt still using the very accurate stock guage . Also you can remove the AC fuse box in the top right hand side of your engine bay...or do as my friend Jimmy did, and use it to wire in a switch to turn the fans on/off for when at the track waiting in line.

 

[RipperXX]

Well I use a Koyo, and if im not mistaken a 180* thermostat so it's pretty unlikely I will see temps under 180 .

 

[HIGHPSI4]

I pulled my A/C about 4 yrs ago. You can get the heat exchanger from under the dash out without removing everything. First pull the glove box, then the blower and housing and then work the heat exchanger out. I gutted mine, sealed it up and put the housing back in.