Front condenser whammy bar removal question

[r-mm]

I'm debating how far to go with my A/C delete. Already have the compressor & associated brackets, main lines etc out. The whammy bar that protects the front consenser looks heavy and rusty so I'd like to remove it.

Is the bolt that holds it in place also holding the torsion bar mounting point? Any problem vis a vis suspension in removing this bolt then replacing it once the whammy bar is out?

[javadog]

Nope.

JR

[Flojo]

by the way, same here... I deleted all of the AC at the back, but kept the front cooler, bar and grid sort of as front-balancing weight vs. the rear.
so I refurbished the set (blasting/powdering).
stupid idea?

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by Flojo

by the way, same here... I deleted all of the AC at the back, but kept the front cooler, bar and grid sort of as front-balancing weight vs. the rear.
so I refurbished the set (blasting/powdering).
stupid idea?

I think not a stupid idea at all and I am going the same path.
I like the added protection to the gas tank, etc as we have many steep driveways and speed bumps here, and it is very easy to scrape up the bottom of our cars.
My tow hooks are so scraped up, but not bent, as a testimony that we need under carriage protection.

[Autoban]

I also left the bar on the car when I removed the A/C. It is a nice protection especially if you lowered your car.

Juergen

[steely]

no problem at all - the other 2 bolts will handle most of the load. don't misplace the spacer washers.

Like the others I prepped/ powder coated mine but after I had to bang much of it back into shape.

[RSBob]

Just finishing AC delete and retained the whammy bar for a little extra sheet metal protection as well as a tiny offset to the rear weight bias. Crazy? Perhaps. Rational? Absolutely. Unsprung weight be damned.

[RDM]

Originally Posted by RSBob

Unsprung weight be damned.

This would be sprung weight. Unsprung weight is between the springs (torsion bars) and the road; it's inertia that the springs and dampers have to overcome.

I left mine on, too for the protection, but didn't gussy it up. If you want to analyze whether the additional weight up front is a (marginal) help to balance, you should also consider whether it is a (marginal) detriment to braking, acceleration, and cornering. The usual equation is mass = bad.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by RDM

This would be sprung weight. Unsprung weight is between the springs (torsion bars) and the road; it's inertia that the springs and dampers have to overcome.

I left mine on, too for the protection, but didn't gussy it up. If you want to analyze whether the additional weight up front is a (marginal) help to balance, you should also consider whether it is a (marginal) detriment to braking, acceleration, and cornering. The usual equation is mass = bad.

I agree. No doubt mass = bad, on a track car. If he is driving it on the street it is called protection. Like the side impact beams in the door protect the driver that bar protects the undercarriage sheet metal. It is not very heavy, it is VERY low and very far foreword. I would bet 99.9% of the drivers on the planet would never notice the weight difference.

If you are building a track car, no question get rid of the the bar. If you are going to drive it on public roads keep it.

[redridge]

I took the condenser off but left the bar in place since my car is lowered... If you are gonna AC delete, take it "ALL" off. I hate it when people leave the AC bracket in the engine bay when they do an AC delete. If it has no purpose... take it off. As for accidents? Well, I would worry more about no air bags... JMHO.

[r-mm]

I looked closer at the geometry of the undercarriage and I'm not really seeing much use the the whammy bar so off it came. What is the standard procedure to plug up the rectangular opening for the condenser blower? Alum sheet and silicone sealant would seem the thing to do if I'm going to pull the motor, but that also seems like a pain to undo if I decide I want a fully redone a/c system in a few years, or sell the car. Any harm in leaving the fan, but disconnecting the power?

I suppose I could put the perforated metal cover back on to limit water ingress...

[osvolant]

I pulled the blower and motor and fabricated a sheet aluminum panel, secured with sheet metal screws and silicone sealant, to keep water out of the trunk. Left the whammy bar in.

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by r-mm

Any harm in leaving the fan, but disconnecting the power?

No harm but why not pull it and store it? I replaced it with a 1L drink bottle instead of the behemoth plastic washer tank in the wheelwell.