A/C Removal has begun - a few questions though

[KatoKato]

Hi,
I've just embarked on my latest project of removing my A/C.
I'm quite excited by all of the extra room I have now!



I have a few questions for those that have done this.

1) Does it look like I got rid of most of the major components?

2) Is it ok to remove the compressor mount? (pic below)



3) Re: the send and return coolant lines. Do they both proceed to the back of the engine bay and go straight down? (pics below)



4) Regarding removal of (3) from the engine bay. Are there any hard to reach holders in the back of the bay or can they be pulled out from underneath?(They don't seem to move that much from above)

5) As far as I can tell these bolts are not required anymore. I figured out that the ones on top are there to secure the top portion of the tail. Is this right??
(pic below)



6) I realize that the front end will be a challenge. Anyone have any tips for the rest of the removal?

Thanks in advance,
Kato

[Jastx]

The hoses exit the engine bay at the bottom outside corners of each side. If you remove the clamps on the hoses underneath you can pull them out. May have to have a helper ease the 90-degree fittings through the holes. HOWEVER, to remove the hose from the passenger side at the front end, unless you just cut it, you'll have to pull the belly pan between the front wheels. The hose runs up to the evaporator in the smugglers box through there.

The front is easy: Open smugglers box. Remove hose fittings. Remove a couple of clamps holding the evaporator box in place. Remove electrical connection. Remove two 3" hose clamps and short hose connecting evaporator box to dash vent plumbing. Remove passenger footwell carpeting. Remove passenger footwell floorboard. Remove 4 screws and pull out the plastic air intake. Lift evaporator from smugglers box.

Front condenser under nose comes out with two screws -- disconnect hoses of courses. Those hoses go back to the drier in the driver front wheel well. One of the drier hoses goes to the smugglers box. Again, unless you just cut it, you'll have to remove the belly pan for access.

That's it. Since you are in Canada, I assume you aren't removing this stuff to upgrade with new parts. Therefore, unless you plan to sell your hoses (can't imagine why anyone would buy them) you can cut them where they enter the belly pan and pull from the top. One of the two -- the one from the drier I think -- is held to a bracket just above the belly pan with a zip tie. It may take some extra tugging and finessing to remove.

[KatoKato]

Thanks for the detailed response! It will come in handy over the next day or two.

Re: hoses - I was thinking of saving the hoses but if no one would ever want them I might as well make the removal as easy as possible (ie cut, cut, snip, snip at my leisure)

I have a couple more questions. Is it easy to route the fresh air blower through the A/C vents as they will now be useless? Has anyone tried this?

Cheers,
Kato

[slodave]

You can remove the compressor mount, but the muffler needs to come out to get to some of the bolts. Mine broke, most of the mount was removed except the part by the bumper. One day, it too, will come off.

Dave

[Jastx]

Regarding saving the hoses, my comment was my point of view. I don't know why anyone going to the trouble to install hoses would use 20 year old hose vs new barrier hose.

On routing the fresh air, do some searching. Cars that came without factory air did route the air through the vents. I belive you can get a couple of the right tubing pieces and accomplish that.

[Bearded Viking]

KatoKato - What do you plan on doing with the Climate Control knobs on the centre console. Could the fan control be used as a fresh air push if you re-pipe the air duct for fresh air? Having the center\side vents piped for fresh air would be nice.

Just curious what people do with the Climate Control knobs after deleting the AC compressor, hoses, etc.

[Bearded Viking]

Found this post ... Answers some questions about getting fresh air to the vents.

86-89 Carrera w/out AC -- what comes out the dash vents?

[Bearded Viking]

Please post the parts and part numbers you used on getting fresh air to the vents. Thanks KatoKato

[KatoKato]

Originally posted by Bearded Viking
Please post the parts and part numbers you used on getting fresh air to the vents. Thanks KatoKato

As far as I can tell I need two of the "Y" couplings (91157103900) as per the thread you directed me to. That should get fresh air to the centre & side vents.

It's too bad you can't make use of that A/C blower to help route fresh air. It sure seems powerful.

[Eric-325I]

Originally posted by Bearded Viking
KatoKato - What do you plan on doing with the Climate Control knobs on the centre console. Could the fan control be used as a fresh air push if you re-pipe the air duct for fresh air? Having the center\side vents piped for fresh air would be nice.

Just curious what people do with the Climate Control knobs after deleting the AC compressor, hoses, etc.

Hello:

My '79 SC had non-functioning AC that I have removed except a few hoses (will come out this winter). Not sure what, if anything, the previous owner did... But using the AC fan switch blows lots, and I mean lots, of fresh air through the center and corner vents. I will be keeping the blower in the smugglers box for this reason. One of the things on my winter to-do list is to remove the center/floor console around the shifter, and relocate the fan control knob to the dash.

Eric

[Rick V]

The only thing I left on my SC from the ac was the evap box and the fan. ( I removed the evap and related parts)Like stated before there is lots of air blown from that fan. It also helps to move heat in the winter. It is a good system too bad the AC sucked so badly. Oh well I like the almost 80lbs. I removed and the extra room in the engine bay.

[Bearded Viking]

KatoKato, please keep this thread updated as you make progress. Fresh air through those vents would tempt me to remove my non working AC system. thx.

[wcc]

Originally posted by KatoKato
Hi,
I've just embarked on my latest project of removing my A/C.
I'm quite excited by all of the extra room I have now!



I have a few questions for those that have done this.

1) Does it look like I got rid of most of the major components?

Yes in the engine compartment, but there is much more up front.

2) Is it ok to remove the compressor mount? (pic below)



Yes, it's easy to do. Remove all the bolts up top and there are couple of bolts under the tin. You may have to remove the muffler to get to them. I managed to get mine out without removing the muffler or loosening up the tin.

3) Re: the send and return coolant lines. Do they both proceed to the back of the engine bay and go straight down? (pics below)



Yes, they go back to the corners of the engine compartment.

4) Regarding removal of (3) from the engine bay. Are there any hard to reach holders in the back of the bay or can they be pulled out from underneath?(They don't seem to move that much from above)

No holders. In both side wheel wells remove the 8mm clamps to give you some slack. Then pull from the underside. You may have to push the fitting through the top.

5) As far as I can tell these bolts are not required anymore. I figured out that the ones on top are there to secure the top portion of the tail. Is this right??
(pic below)



Yup not required, but I put some back in to make the lid look like it really isn't missing anything. Just to make it look finished.

6) I realize that the front end will be a challenge. Anyone have any tips for the rest of the removal?

You can remove the entire system without cutting hoses and it really isn't that hard. Start with removing the rear hoses to the front. Just follow to where they go. Removing the belly pan and the front condenser really isn't a big deal. The only hose that I was tempted to cut was the one that ran from the front Condeser to the DS wheel well. As I pulled it through it would get stuck on the battery overflow drain hose. Don't forget to remove the resistor pack under the PS floor board otherwise your stuff won't pull out of the smugglers box easily. To get to all the stuff in the smugglers box you'll have to remove all the carpet, etc. Easy enough. While you're in there you'll probably want to remove the blower situated right up in the nose over the front condenser, by the battery. It's easy to remove but you'll be left with a big hole. Just so you know.

Sorry, if I repeated stuff, I just typed what came to mind instead of re-reading everything to see if it was covered.

Good Luck!

Thanks in advance,
Kato

[Eomak]

Hi, i hve 1980sc i was thinking of removing the A/C.I Dont use it never plan too. Is it easy to remove?Can i just remove the rad. thing on engine lid and the comprisure off engine block? Is it filled with fuild the hoses or can i just leave them in and tuck them aside? thx

[Rick V]

Originally posted by Eomak
Hi, i hve 1980sc i was thinking of removing the A/C.I Dont use it never plan too. Is it easy to remove?Can i just remove the rad. thing on engine lid and the comprisure off engine block? Is it filled with fuild the hoses or can i just leave them in and tuck them aside? thx

I would remove the entire system (I already did)
Remove the lines it looks crappy to leave them just-a-swinging. Unbolt them from the underside and pull them out. Very easy. Remove the front and rear condensors. remove the evap. box from the smugglers box, and gut it. You will need to remove the passinger side foot board to remove the blower resistor. This has to be done to get the evap box out.
Reinstall the evap box empty except for the fan. also remove the reciever from the LF fender well. It will only take you about 2 hours.
Oh yeah don't forget to remove the compressor bracket, it weighs about 10lbs.
Before opening up the AC system make sure the system is empty. If you are not sure just go to any shop that does AC work and have it evacuated.
I also replaced all the little screws in the floor board that held the lines under the car. A little silicone sealant and back in the holes they went. Gotta keep the dirt and water out!

[KatoKato]

"While you're in there you'll probably want to remove the blower situated right up in the nose over the front condenser, by the battery"


Do you mean this thing?

[wcc]

Yep! But you'll have a hole there when you're finished. What I did was cut a small piece of alum and screwed it down though the existing screw holes and put some strip caulk around it to seal it up. This was my temporary fix for now. I'll probably weld in a piece of metal and paint it eventually.

[KatoKato]

"...Don't forget to remove the resistor pack under the PS floor board otherwise your stuff won't pull out of the smugglers box easily..."

Hi Bill,

Almost near completion but I have a few questions.

1) Regarding the resistor pack (this is it, I think)



Can this assemly be removed entirely?
Also - The red wires diappear under the carpet. Where do they end up? (at the A/C control switches).
I think I may remove them as well.

2) Regarding the smugglers box:



(i) Is the white tube the intake from the floor?
(ii) and the black tube goes to the center vents?
(iii) What is the purpose of that white wire that seems to go in the direction of the black tube? I pulled it out of the evaporator and it's just hanging there.
(iv) Is that black ribbed drainage tube still necessary?
(v) how should I fill that hole beside the drain?

Sorry for all these questions. Just need to know before I put everything back together.

Cheers,
Kato

[wcc]

Originally posted by KatoKato
"...Don't forget to remove the resistor pack under the PS floor board otherwise your stuff won't pull out of the smugglers box easily..."

Hi Bill,

Almost near completion but I have a few questions.

1) Regarding the resistor pack (this is it, I think)



Can this assemly be removed entirely?

Yes

Also - The red wires diappear under the carpet. Where do they end up? (at the A/C control switches).

Yup, you can but then you'll have a couple of holes in your console. Just so you know. I ended up removing the entire thing and the central lock button and all. I think it looks cleaner. At least for now, one day I'll probably put it back in.

I think I may remove them as well.

2) Regarding the smugglers box:



(i) Is the white tube the intake from the floor?

Yes, I believe so, but it goes into the tunnel. So I'm not really sure. But you can just leave it open. No big deal.

(ii) and the black tube goes to the center vents?
Sure is.

(iii) What is the purpose of that white wire that seems to go in the direction of the black tube? I pulled it out of the evaporator and it's just hanging there.

That goes to your temp control knob in your console

(iv) Is that black ribbed drainage tube still necessary?

Nah, but I left mine in. Don't ask me why, I just did.

(v) how should I fill that hole beside the drain?

I got a large body plug and just pushed it in place

Sorry for all these questions. Just need to know before I put everything back together.

Cheers,
Kato

Sorry, I'm a man of few words tonight. I hope at least some it helped ya out. It sounds like you got a good handle on this project anyways. Besides I'm sure you'll many more responses on this thread....

Good Luck!

[Jim Sims]

"(iv) Is that black ribbed drainage tube still necessary?

Nah, but I left mine in. Don't ask me why, I just did."

It's necessary if you don't want the passenger floor soaked with water.