2G Would like an opinion on some small projects im considering this summer (2g DSM)

[Ben W]

Hello everybody,

Ive got a 2g DSM GST-Spyder thats both a daily, but also a project
(Thankfully she has been fairly reliable over the course of my ownership)

While ive not really done anything major other than keeping up with maintenance over the last 6 years, ive started considering doing the following.

I would like to know, in a broad sense, a measure of
1- How beneficial each of these would be (or if there are any drawbacks)
2- How hard these would be to do

Maybe a 1-5 rating of 5 being the most beneficial/hardest and 1 the least?

What I would like to do is
1- Remove the AC system
My car has always had a few issues with overheating. While the main culprits have been solved, running AC on a hotday does cause the temp gauge to creep up. Being a convertible, if its a hot day i just roll top down, and if its not hot i dont need AC
So the AC system seems entirely unnecessary to me, and I have heard that removing can actually improve airflow/cooling for the engine. True? (Plus weight reduction is always a plus)

2- Remove cruise control
Ive honestly just never used cruise control in any car ive driven. Even when I did an 18hr trek across country in my DSM, i tried the cruise control, but ultimately didnt like not having active control over the throttle
This seems like a good idea to clear some space in the engine bay, and ive also heard that this can solve some minor idle issues as well. (my idle surges if I get stuck in stop-and-go traffic once the engine is nice and hot)

Are there any other "minor" projects like these worth considering for the summer? (Nothing that can ground my car for extended periods- need it to stay running for now)
Im fairly minimalist, preferring general effectiveness over comfort

Thanks in advance!

 

[nismojones]

Both fans should be checked for function, I looked for your vehicle profile and couldn’t find it, but Im still getting used to this setup on tuners. Do you have a large front mount intercooler? If not, check for bent fins in the radiator and check for any obstructions.
Cruise is easy but there’s not alot to gain by removing aside from simplicity. Plenty of how-to links on removing. GL

 

[Ben W]

I d

Both fans should be checked for function, I looked for your vehicle profile and couldn’t find it, but Im still getting used to this setup on tuners. Do you have a large front mount intercooler? If not, check for bent fins in the radiator and check for any obstructions.
Cruise is easy but there’s not alot to gain by removing aside from simplicity. Plenty of how-to links on removing.

I do have a Mishimoto front mount intercooler

Both radiator fans are brand new and function

Do you see any issue with removing the AC compressor?

 

[pauleyman]

Hello everybody,

Ive got a 2g DSM GST-Spyder thats both a daily, but also a project
(Thankfully she has been fairly reliable over the course of my ownership)

While ive not really done anything major other than keeping up with maintenance over the last 6 years, ive started considering doing the following.

I would like to know, in a broad sense, a measure of
1- How beneficial each of these would be (or if there are any drawbacks)
2- How hard these would be to do

Maybe a 1-5 rating of 5 being the most beneficial/hardest and 1 the least?

What I would like to do is
1- Remove the AC system
My car has always had a few issues with overheating. While the main culprits have been solved, running AC on a hotday does cause the temp gauge to creep up. Being a convertible, if its a hot day i just roll top down, and if its not hot i dont need AC
So the AC system seems entirely unnecessary to me, and I have heard that removing can actually improve airflow/cooling for the engine. True? (Plus weight reduction is always a plus)

2- Remove cruise control
Ive honestly just never used cruise control in any car ive driven. Even when I did an 18hr trek across country in my DSM, i tried the cruise control, but ultimately didnt like not having active control over the throttle
This seems like a good idea to clear some space in the engine bay, and ive also heard that this can solve some minor idle issues as well. (my idle surges if I get stuck in stop-and-go traffic once the engine is nice and hot)

Are there any other "minor" projects like these worth considering for the summer? (Nothing that can ground my car for extended periods- need it to stay running for now)
Im fairly minimalist, preferring general effectiveness over comfort

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure I would consider any of these ?projects. Any one can be done in a day.
Ac removal? Up to you. It all bolts in so it's a remove process. Compressor wouldn't be fun
If you overheat because of ac you still have problems or you have a large fmic and poor airflow.

Cruise removal. Again not a big deal. Non cruise cables have been discontinued for years. You will have to make something else work. No this will not fix your idle issues. If you have idle issues you need to investigate why. The only thing a cable can do is (when improperly adjuated) is keep the throttle partially open.

Both would clean up the engine bay if that's what you're looking for. Other than that I seee no benefit. What exactly is your goal with these changes?

 

[Ben W]

I'm not sure I would consider any of these ?projects. Any one can be done in a day.
Ac removal? Up to you. It all bolts in so it's a remove process. Compressor wouldn't be fun
If you overheat because of ac you still have problems or you have a large fmic and poor airflow.

Cruise removal. Again not a big deal. Non cruise cables have been discontinued for years. You will have to make something else work. No this will not fix your idle issues. If you have idle issues you need to investigate why. The only thing a cable can do is (when improperly adjuated) is keep the throttle partially open.

Both would clean up the engine bay if that's what you're looking for. Other than that I seee no benefit. What exactly is your goal with these changes?

Project may have been the wrong term

More small tasks

Yeah, primarily just cleanin up the engine bay of unnecessary clutter

 

[pauleyman]

I'm not a fan of deleting ac but to each his own.

 

[nismojones]

Oh ok well then you’ll need to verify it’s all ducted properly. all the airflow has to be directed properly to go where it’s needed. Look and see if you have any shrouding/that directs and seals incoming air into the radiator.

IMO A/C delete is weird. I LOVE my AC on those hot days and wouldn’t go without it. Your not losing power when it’s not engaged.
Mainly check for any obstructions in the fins, use a pressure washer if there is a lot. GL

 

[pauleyman]

Oh ok well then you’ll need to verify it’s all ducted properly. all the airflow has to be directed properly to go where it’s needed. Look and see if you have any shrouding/that directs and seals incoming air into the radiator.

IMO A/C delete is weird. I LOVE my AC on those hot days and wouldn’t go without it. Your not losing power when it’s not engaged.
Mainly check for any obstructions in the fins, use a pressure washer if there is a lot. GL

Do NOT USE a power washer. They have enough power to bend fins flat. Same for home ac cleaning. Even a pressure attachment on a garden hose will bend fins. Seen it first hand.

 

[nismojones]

Oh shoot maybe mine was just on lowest setting? Good lookin out

 

[luv2rallye]

Flushing out your engine and radiator properly is a worthwhile task/project if you haven't done it in 5 years (especially now at the start of summer). Here's the proper way (this is for a Toyota but the concept is similiar w/o oil filter removal):

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Ben W]

Oh ok well then you’ll need to verify it’s all ducted properly. all the airflow has to be directed properly to go where it’s needed. Look and see if you have any shrouding/that directs and seals incoming air into the radiator.

IMO A/C delete is weird. I LOVE my AC on those hot days and wouldn’t go without it. Your not losing power when it’s not engaged.
Mainly check for any obstructions in the fins, use a pressure washer if there is a lot. GL

Ive just not touched it due to previous SEVERE overheating issues leaving me paranoid about even the slightest increase in my heat gauge

 

[JeffGS-T97]

Have you considered a battery relocation to the hatch? That would free up a good chunk of space.

 

[Ben W]

Have you considered a battery relocation to the hatch? That would free up a good chunk of space.

I actually havent

Ill have to look that up, not sure how much work that is

Im not particularly adept at wiring

 

[luv2rallye]

Ive just not touched it due to previous SEVERE overheating issues leaving me paranoid about even the slightest increase in my heat gauge

Flushing the engine and radiator both directions (even putting in some coolant flush in first and running awhile before starting this), blowing out/cleaning and straightening radiator/condensor fins, replacing thermostat and radiator cap with new ones, possibly replacing radiator if it's old (corroded or too cruded up inside to cool effectively), replacing coolant hoses, making sure fan shouds are tight against radiator, going back to stock fans which move more air, will ALL help with cooling - you'd be amazed.

 

[JeffGS-T97]

There are a ton of ways archived on the forum. You definitely want to take your time and do it good. I did it to make room for a bigger crank case ventilator. I did both the battery and cruise control delete. My car is moderately modified and it makes it more convenient for me when i need to take that area apart.

 

[randman2011]

(...) it makes it more convenient for me when i need to take that area apart.

I very much miss the engine bay in my old Talon. The PO had relocated the battery to the trunk and I got very spoiled by how much extra space there was. It still had cruise control and I used it, but the battery alone made a huge difference. Unfortunately the trunk was a disaster because the PO was incompetent around cars, but you can't win 'em all.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

Do NOT USE a power washer. They have enough power to bend fins flat. Same for home ac cleaning. Even a pressure attachment on a garden hose will bend fins. Seen it first hand.

Home AC, push from inside the coil to the outside as to push all debris out of the coil, and yes, be super careful with pressure