Opinions on A/C

[Aproductions]

I need some input on whether the should buy A/C parts or just keep everything out. I have another car so the DSM will not see winter at all so I shouldn't need heat. But I will drive it in the summer so A/c is the big question. I built the car and have a Holset h1c and plan on having around 400hp, does A/c really look that bad in the engine bay (going for clean look) and does it really take much poweR?

 

[Alex7747]

It definately looks a lot cleaner with a/c(mines out) And with the a/c condenser out of the way(i assume you have a Fmic if you're going 400 hp) the car will have less chance of overheating...
*with out a/c

 

[96awd]

Keep it out!!!

So much cleaner, weight dropped, and it's never needed! That's what window's and the sunroof is for!

 

[LiquidX]

I just removed mine the other week. The only time you loose power is when it comes on. When it's not on it's very negligible for he amount of loss from having another belt on the crank.

Removing it does allow more airflow to the radiator, loss of weight, easier access to the rear of the motor, and cleaner looking bay.

 

[turboglenn]

personally i MUST have my breature comforts. I make 438hp on the turbo alone and 503 with a shot of laughing gas and i have retained my AC on factory radiator for over 10 years on this setup. And it still cools great!!!!!!!!

 

[Alex7747]

Keep it out!!!

So much cleaner, weight dropped, and it's never needed! That's what window's and the sunroof is for!

Lol x2
well if you live in the desert like i do you might consider keeping it in but as long as your moonroof and windows work, keep it out!

 

[dalesmitsu]

Is it true defrost will still work during winter without having a/c ?

 

[turboglenn]

Yes, it will still work. What you're probably thinking of is that when you run the defrost it actually runs the AC pump in the winter to keep the oils inside of it flowing to the seals so they don't dry out and rot causing a leak, but your heat side of the defrost willwork if you remove the AC setup

 

[Aproductions]

Well for the year I drove my car I didn't have A/C I thought it sucked in the summer. The only thing I took out was a busted evaporator and now that my car is gutted (dash out) I thought do I want it or no?


Turbo glenn, you are saying you don't over heat? I would have the stock A/C setup and I have a PR FMIC and a PR aluminum radiator.

decisions decisions.

 

[bsbllfit7]

I think what the person talking about defrost and the AC meant was will it work as well without the AC and the answer is no. The AC is pulling the moisture out of the air inside of the car and IF YOU HAVE the AC on when your defrosting it will work better. Not having that feature any more on the car will hinder that ability but will it matter? Thats the important question

 

[blackGSX2g]

Get the A/C parts. Since most of the components are hidden under the intake manifold, it doesn't clean up the engine bay that much. The only benefit I see is increase airflow to the radiator, and weight savings. You can just crank up the boost a bit more to make up what it weighs. I'm running a factory radiator and 3.5" thick FMIC core and don't overheat on hot muggy days. Makes driving the car much more bearable.

 

[KeelesKustome]

Here in humid TN I've ran without my a/c for half the summer now, and I'm waiting for my new condensor to come in, so i can re-install it!

Screw cars with no A/C, unless it's a track queen, A/C has to be equipped. After all we aren't honda's, we can make up for the wieght gain easily. Example: clean out your back seat and trunk, one: .

 

[TSITurbo95]

Yeah, unless it's a track only car, keep the AC. Especially on these hot ass days? Plus everyone and their mothers take out AC. I would personally put it back in, as stated, its much more comfortable to drive. But the end result, is up you though.

 

[phunny]

Keep the a/c. Mine worked fine until my fan failed and now I'm putting in a new setup. Just follow my thread and you'll see that with the right setup removing the a/c doesn't help at all.

 

[LiquidX]

I have a thread up for "AC after FMIC" and it seems to be mixed results. I was told inwasnt getting enough airflow to the condenser and I personally didn't want to risk shot 180$ for it to hopefully work. That's my real reason for it coming out and I never used it.

I personally don't believe track queens are the only ones that can remove it but if it it were to work I would keep it. If not then toss it basically.

 

[Zdrummer15]

I think all the key points have been brought up already so it just comes down to what you want to do. That being said, I also must have my A/C. It hit 100 degrees like every day this past week and there's no way in hell I would DD a car with no A/C in that if I had the choice. I drove my old car for an entire summer with a non-functioning A/C and it was awful.

For me it comes down to whether I DD the car. If my DSM wasn't my daily, I wouldn't care if it had A/C because I would just drive my other car when it was hot.

 

[turboglenn]

Well for the year I drove my car I didn't have A/C I thought it sucked in the summer. The only thing I took out was a busted evaporator and now that my car is gutted (dash out) I thought do I want it or no?


Turbo glenn, you are saying you don't over heat? I would have the stock A/C setup and I have a PR FMIC and a PR aluminum radiator.

decisions decisions.

WEll. At least not overheating anymore. There was a 2 year span that i had a reman'ed water pump on the car that kept it getting hot but once i found out it wasn't flowing and went back to an OEM pump it got drasticallyt better. Then my radiator needed replaced as the old one was cracked and leaking under hot driving but once i put another OEM plastic radiator in there the temps have never climbed any higher than 207* F

EDIT: I think a lot of it on the FMIC issue is people want to buy HUGE front mounts that block the entire opening (not to mention buying cheap cored that don't flow well both internally and externally) I run a Spearco core that is sorta triangular looking when you can see the end tanks and it's about 6 inches short of filling in the sides of the gap, i think this helps me still pass enough air to not have any issues with heat, and my cooling system is 100% OEM parts

 

[Kingcof22]

keep it in.. the weather is way too hot to suffer without it!

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Unless it is a strictly track car, keep it. Why remove it otherwise?

 

[Aproductions]

it easy to put in the A/C? I will put the evaporator in and then when I can't handle not having A/C I will just put the rest in?

would that work?

 

[richard33]

I dont have ac but I dont really drive my car much on the street or during the day. Some people can live without it some people need it. Im sure it would be easier to resell your car with ac.

 

[avenged5]

Here in humid TN I've ran without my a/c for half the summer now, and I'm waiting for my new condensor to come in, so i can re-install it!

Screw cars with no A/C, unless it's a track queen, A/C has to be equipped. After all we aren't honda's, we can make up for the wieght gain easily. Example: clean out your back seat and trunk, one: .

+1000000000000000000000000000

I was driving my DSM to pick up my lady and got caught in traffic for only 5 minutes. By the time I got there I was drenched in sweat (bear in mind it was 102 with a 119 heat index) and had shower again because we were headed to a party.

Tennessee humidity is a killer. A/C all the way.

 

[bo0st]

You'll probably be like .03 faster without it so IMO it'd be best to keep it in and like another member said, turn up the boost a bit to compensate the gains you wouldn't even notice

 

[camfast]

I say keep it unless you have a daily driver and this car is a weekend toy. I have a fully loaded auto TSI with a/c and i enjoy it during the Texas summer days.

 

[spoolingreen20]

As far as i'm concerned there is only one time you NEED A/C. When it is hot as hell and it is raining. Where I live those days are rare. What is not rare is WOT I like a clean bay and weight savings. I think the term track queen should be applied to those who need A/C You can always take it out and put it back in if you have to sell it.