To A/C or not to A/C...
 

So as we are approaching my first summer since I bought my toy I am trying to decide whether or not to try to get the A/C unit working again.

The PO removed the compressor about 4 years ago to lighten the rear but the condensors etc are still there. What I am trying to figure out is how much would it cost me to get it back into working order and after this long, should I assume that all the hoses etc are toast? Also, it has not been updated from freon.

So, can anybody give me an idea of how much $$ I would be looking at to get it running again and/or could it be done at home by a semi-skilled shade tree mechanic?

You live in Mass. Weigh the benefits of removing your AC and the actual amount of days you will need it up there and the actual cost and maintenance keeping that obsolete system "operating". Drivers that live in the south and other very hot places I can understand. Those that don't I would remove it and not look back.

I have a working AC in mine and have used it 3 times in the last 3 years. Ditch it. I will shortly.

Around $1.5k DIY. That's with barrier hose, reciever drier, compressor+mount and r12. That's on the high side of $.

I live in the south, deep south. My PO paid the r134 conversion, system was sort of good. I asked these questions, why drive it on 100 degree days? The amount of money needed to make it as good as honda or toyota AC is alot. Maybe I should just get a another car with good AC for the same money it would take to get it up to par. Having a ****ty AC is worse than having no AC.
fix it on the cheap yourself if you want, but futzing around with all that just for a couple months up there of hot weather will piss you off and in a year or two you'll ditch it.
from the post above, that's what I was looking at. 2K for great AC

I live in NC and it does get plenty hawt here. The AC in my Turbo worked good (cold) for exactly one week after I bought the car. During my recent engine rebuild, I decided to pull it! I removed the tail condensor and the compressor and capped the hoses. I grew up in FL and have owned more "old" cars without AC than with...so I'm used to it. For me it was done to clean up the engine compartment and make servicing the engine easier. I doubt I'll miss it.

Oh and this is my daily driver...

I too was considering removing the AC. Not much use in a Cab. In removing the AC, should the system be emptied professionally? I understand that the R12 is quite expensive as well. Can you get some cash for that (if there is anyleft)?

Lawrence

You would likely have to pay to get it taken out by someone licensed to do so, which you are required by law to do since it is a greenhouse gas, or some sort of bad gas for the environment.

edit: could be different in canadia

well the people have spoken and it looks like the AC is coming back off the car. If anyone had said I could get it running for $300 or less I'd have taken a shot at it, but it aint worth $**** to me when I have an old honda accord which is my winter (and really hot summer days now) car.

Looks like my 911 will be losing 30lbs off the rear tonight...(guessing on the compressor weight based on zero knowledge).

I am in the same boat about my A/C.

Even if you drop $1.5K into the A/C, it still won't blow as cold as my other late-model vehicles. I don't know if I would like that...

I live in hot humid just miles off of the coast Houston. A/C has been removed and not missed. It was not that good to begin with It made the engine hotter than it made the cab cool. Pulled it out and now I have a place to store my jumper cables and I can get to my passenger side intake valves.

that's funny, I keep jumper cables in there to

I have a working unit in my car. Have not needed it once. Even on hot summer days (well for Sweden). I am amazed how that small coupe keeps out the heat. I suppose being white does help. My A/C will be gone as soon as possible. Much cleaner and worker friendly under the rear lid. Bit of weight shaving too.

Don't stop at the compressor. Hunt down every last bit of the whole parasitic mess and exterminate it like the vermin it is,

ianc

I just removed the A/C from my '81 Targa. The A/C didn't work all that well - small vents, it doesn't get that hot in Calgary (usually), I'm never selling this car :-), and of course the Targa top can come off instead.

Also, I knew from past experience with my old 944 that changes in car weight of about 100lbs makes a performance difference.

I removed all of the A/C bits (except a few engine brackets with bolts I can't quite reach and I'm still pulling some wires). The car dropped 67lbs. I also removed the spare & kit (except the v-belt tools) for another 43 lbs - I have CAA - and noticed an acceleration improvement in 2nd and 3rd.

BTW, the Freon evac cost $40+tax at a small shop I found in the yellow pages. (The big shops like Sears wanted $100CDN).

>Don't stop at the compressor. Hunt down every last bit of the whole parasitic mess and exterminate it like the vermin it is

You mean like this ?

http://members.rennlist.com/greg/911t_ac.jpg

80 lbs saved !!!

I had a somewhat functioning AC in my 73.5 and I live in FL. It's HOT enough that I would stop driving the T now... Even when the AC was 100%, it was nowhere near useful enough, made the engine run hotter too.. Might as well ditch it and drive your "other" car on really hot days ! !

If my A/C blows hot, do I assume the system has leaked itself dry?

Two years ago, mine was loaded with "Freeze 12" and I don't think any shop wants that to contaminate their equipment...

This thread has convinced me to pull my A/C.

Only reason why I brought my current P car was because the two Lotuses didn't have a/c and since they are all summer cars it no fun driving in a hot car

I drove my 77 in Atlanta for 4 years without A/C. My wife drove it one warm day and said I needed a new car.

I estimated $3K for a complete setup, which, given the vents in a 77 could not have been any good.

Instead I bought a 90 will ice cold A/C and sold my other car. The net was $4K extra. As much as I loved that car, this was the right decision!

I repaired the A/C in my '88 for $80 in parts, and $300 in tools. (I got tired of sweating to death on that 20-minute drive home from the track.)

So far, so good.

I replaced all my lines, repaired both condensors, and the evaporator and I hardly ever use it.

Replaced lines, put in bigger condensor fans (under the tail), switched to R134a and I get low 30s on a 100 degree day in LA.

It all started so innocently. I pulled the compressor out of my engine bay.

That lead to the removal of the entire A/C system, then the "HI FI" system, then the entire interior, then the engine lid replacement, then the manual sport seats, center console, jack, spare, 13.5lb battery, Momo Steering Wheel, Bilstein Sports, 9" Fuchs...Whew!

Carrera 3.2 - 375lbs = FAST!

Mike

$2-3K for R134 full re-do which will likely need to be charged every year unless barrier hoses are used (and then who knows if/how much longer it will last.)

Did this on my 81 and enjoy it (achieved 30s vent temps) but skip it if in Massachusetts. Not enough bang for bucks, recharge $ and maintenance $.

I posted a long posting on my A/C rebuild. I live in New Mexico and if you don't have an A/C here in the summer you will fry. Even with the windows down on a 100 degree day it's miserable. The straight answer on the cold issue is yes, you can make it blow cold. I have to keep mine on low because I get way too cold with it on medium or high. I installed a new compressor, barrier hoses, and I only have the one condenser on the trunk lid and I installed (2) electric fans that pull air from the outside into the engine compartment and I attached them to the clutch on the compressor. And I have a pro-cooler and that's it. Nothing fancy, no extra hoses and I use R134. I really can see no reason to have to have (3) condensers and all that mumbo jumbo crap. Use your head and don't listen to what everyone says. You can have an A/C that works without issue. I spent about $1500 on the stuff and did the work myself.

Good luck!

Roll down the windows and put your right foot to the floor. It's an ac system called 270, 2 windows, 70mph :D

I live in Dubai and my old 911sc targa does not have ac, drive it all year around even in 4o plus degree heat, thought about fitting AC but it would not work effectively and ad weight and drain bhp.
I would not bother.

If your current sytem is complete and not leaking you may want to try this route: http://www.redtek.com/products_refr.html It appears to be an upgrade option that doesn't require all the new parts like an R134a conersion, and supposedly cools better than R12; at least that's what I got from their propaganda on that link.

Someone else posted this link here a few weeks ago. I have no idea on how well this stuff works but is relatively cheap so might be worth a try.

Welcome to the board!

I guess if you can survive Dubai, I can survive the "heat" of Southern California! :D

I hear the devil himself has gutted his 911 of it's AC!:D

"I hear the devil himself has gutted his 911 of it's AC!"

If you can get hotter than hell you can cool a portion of hell.:D

Interesting, indeed...

From an earlier post:

REDTEK is a hydrocarbon refrigerant replacement; it is flammable and it will provide good cooling. However I do not recommend the use of these types of flammable refrigerants. People forget why they have not been used in the past - they are dangerous if used incorrectly. I'm fully expecting to read about uninformed and/or short-cut prone mechanics and DIY consumers blowing the hoses or heads off compressors when they charge a system full of air with a refrigerant such as REDTEK. Even without a spark, the heat of compression (think diesel engine) will ignite the air and hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture and can result in an explosion. Most manufacturers of automotive A/C components and systems will consider their warranties void if you use these types of replacement refrigerants.

If you elect to use REDTEK or something like it (again I don't recommend using them) ensure you have a leak tight and fully evacuated (40 micron vacuum with a real refrigeration vacuum pump) system.

Jim....good point.

tedder,

My experience is similar to Elu. I upgraded the parts and it works great now, comparable to modern systems in temperature at the vents. For me in Dallas, it makes a great difference, but it cost more than $300 for parts, did labor myself.

With your '86 you have the big side vents. If you get a competent A/C guy to pull vacuum to make sure you're not leaking and replace with R12 (if it hasn't already been changed to R134) you'll get reasonable cool, especially in MA. A fellow Porsche enthusiast who had also done A/C for a living did mine. He told me leaks can commonly occur at the cheap valves on the compressor (you can replace them) and at another seal on the compressor at the clutch. Start with a checkup to see where you are.

Personally, I don't think removing the A/C is a good idea to preserve the value of your car, but that's up to you.

Tedder:

What will you be doing with the excess and absolutely worthless parts? I might be interested in the front blower.

MK

I decided to commit to keeping my Targa for a long time and got rid of the a/c and the lower resale value-- it wasn't charged when I bought the car, it's a Targa-- I just take off the top-- wasn't that bad last weekend at Coachella... (except for my starter buggin out!) car has a bit more power, and better air flow to the added 930 tail...

I decided to commit to keeping my Targa for a long time and got rid of the a/c and the lower resale value-- it wasn't charged when I bought the car, it's a Targa-- I just take off the top-- wasn't that bad last weekend at Coachella... (except for my starter buggin out!) car has a bit more power, and better air flow to the added 930 tail... an orange 911 is using my removed system in Florida where it makes sense....