Good or Bad Idea?

[CarreraDan]

Guys,
I need some advice on what to do to my 88 Carrera. I have owned the car for almost four years and in that time the a/c has only worked for 3 months. I have a leak at the compressor and a few of my lines have cracks all the way through them. I am trying to decide what to do with the a/c now. Option one is just put the car up on jack stands and remove everything that is a/c related and forget about it. Option two is leave it alone and fix it at a later date. The main problem is I would rather spend the money on other stuff than to fix the a/c and settle for marginal results. Here in SC it gets very hot and humid so I don't drive the car in July and August much at all during the day.

I think the car would be easier to work on without the a/c stuff and I really have no plans to sell the car for a very long time (in way too deep $$$ wise to ever sell). I hope to get a used Boxster S or 996 (shudder) to use as a daily driver in a few years so the Carrera would be a 2nd weekend toy. I am just afraid that if I pull the a/c then I will fall down that slippery slope and next be melting off sound deadener off the floor to save weight. Anyone who has removed there a/c regret it later? I will keep the main components just in case.

[FenderGuy]

Option 1 put around $1212 into the ac and it will work with griffiths or rennaire ac kits... the board should chime in soon on this as other members have updated the AC system in the 911's . Its eaither you love it or hate option choice is urs

option 2 sell your ac parts to me


Here in Az I would need a AC because the weather sucks in the summer, its more of a dry heat then humid but all the same, driving in the summer here is hell

[FenderGuy]

Originally posted by CarreraDan
I hope to get a used Boxster S or 996 (shudder) to use as a daily driver in a few years so the Carrera would be a 2nd weekend toy. I am just afraid that if I pull the a/c then I will fall down that slippery slope and next be melting off sound deadener off the floor to save weight. Anyone who has removed there a/c regret it later? I will keep the main components just in case.

shudder? hmmm the 996 is an awsome car, i would be in awe if i was able to own one....like the 997 better now though

[arcsine]

Dump the AC. You will end up replacing just about everything if you want to make the AC functional. In the meantime, you can save about 70 pounds of dead weight and gain access to your engine.

[CarreraDan]

Frank,
I meant the 996 shudder comment as a joke b/c so many air cooled 911 drivers think so low of them when they have never even tried one. I also agree the 997 is looking good too, just prefer the entry price of the 996 right now (one hell of a car for the money).

[FenderGuy]

Originally posted by CarreraDan
Frank,
I meant the 996 shudder comment as a joke b/c so many air cooled 911 drivers think so low of them when they have never even tried one. I also agree the 997 is looking good too, just prefer the entry price of the 996 right now (one hell of a car for the money).

My bad Dan you go on and get that 996 and post pics

[defcon65]

I never use mine and am inclined to remove it also. My understanding is that even if completely redone, the stock AC is not so great. I have a sunroof coupe and just open it up, roll the windows down and drive faster in hot weather. Carolina is hot for sure but can't be muggier than the Midwest in late summer.
The aftermarket AC kits are supposed to be much better than stock, but I can't justify the expense, either.
So my advice would be to leave it alone or remove it and sell it, maybe using the proceeds towards one of the aftermarket kits.
One of these days I'll remove mine and get rid of that awful center console as well.

Regards,

[JP911]

I say pull the AC and box it up. If you regret your decision sometime down the road, or if you sell the car, you can reinstall with new lines and maybe one of the upgrades that Frank mentions.

[Rot 911]

I pulled the AC on mine 4 years ago and never looked back. It gets hot and humid here in the summer. I usually just put the car in the garage in July and August and drive something with AC. When I start driving it again in September it is like falling in love all over again. I don't miss the two months because I drive my 911 the other 10 months of the year.

[Eric Hahl]

I vote to take it out. I just removed mine the other day and it was fairly easy. I just boxed it all up to sell with the car if that every happens. It really opened up the engine compartment. Next time I drop the engine I will remove the last remaining item...the compressor bracket.

[CarreraDan]

Thanks Guys,
It looks as if the a/c is going to be getting pulled out in the near future. Kurt, I agree with you and usually just drive my Grand Cherokee during the day from late June to mid September saving the 911 for cooler days, the Jeep has ice cold air. If I was going to spend a few grand on the car the a/c would most likely be the last place that money would go. I would rather do suspension work and maybe a new exhaust system. Thanks again guys, I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track.

[wcc]

Lets look at the financial side of things:

To fix the AC about $1500

To buy a 996 with AC about $30k

Based on just money, fix the AC and save the 30k.

Money aside:

Pull the AC - FREE (maybe even make a buck or two). Yes you'll start pulling dead weight, but again that's free.

Buy the 996 cause you want it and not just for the AC. BTW I like the 996 and think it's a sweet car. Oh yeah, post pics when you get it.....

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by CarreraDan
Kurt, I agree with you and usually just drive my Grand Cherokee during the day from late June to mid September saving the 911 for cooler days, the Jeep has ice cold air.

Great minds think alike. I too drive a Grand Cherokee during the summer!

[azasadny]

Dump the A/C!

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Particularly if your car will be a toy, like mine, lose the a/c. You'll never be sitting in a traffic jam regretting you're without it. I took out absolutely everything from the engine compartment, fender wells, under the belly, smuggler's box, cabin...everything. It's a horrible, kludgy, ill-designed system anyway.

Stephan

[rs6er]

You guys have me going now too. The only thing that has stopped me so far is:

1) I have more important things to do right now

2) How do you keep the windshield clear on wet humid days? What would you have to keep to get the blower to circulate the air?

3) I'm not sure if there's anything still in the lines. I looked at the receiver drier the other day and the ball was sitting on the bottom. Does that mean I can safely disconnect the hoses from the compressor without killing myself?

PS I'd love to 86 the console too.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Once you start, there's no stopping...carbon fiber this and that, stripped interior, fiberglass bumpers, who needs a radio and motorized antenna anyway...

Stephan

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by wcc
Buy the 996 cause you want it and not just for the AC.

Funny I brought my current PORSCHE just for the A/C because my 74 911 didn't A/C.

[niner11]

Originally posted by arcsine
Dump the AC. You will end up replacing just about everything if you want to make the AC functional. In the meantime, you can save about 70 pounds of dead weight and gain access to your engine.

I spent some time out west this summer and I can understand people junking their A/C but in the deep south or humidity of Florida it's just not the same. I have a black SC coupe that was undriveable for a few months of the year when I lived in Atlanta and then Greensboro.

I fab'd a mount for a 993 condensor with a fan and replaced the factory evaporator with a new one from Rennaire. Also added a procooler in place of the receiver dryer. It made my coupe a different car in terms of comfort and driveability.

I swear that I'll post a write up when I get some time but I had no complaints with my new A/C in 95 degree weather and high humidity. Even in traffic. Probably have less than 1100 dollars in the whole upgrade. The money and time invested were well worth it and something that I probably should have done a long time ago. As to the weight, yes the car would be lighter with no A/C but this is a fun sportscar not a dedicated track machine. This would make a great winter project, good luck

[CarreraDan]

Well, since I had the day off I went and did it. My Carrera now has nothing that resembles a/c, it is all gone (except for the controls on the console). I ended up having to cut two hoses b/c I am lazy and other than that everything came right out--it was if the car wanted it to be gone. Plus, I got to play with my new air tools which is always a benefit.

Now for some questions, I am going to fab up some block off plates to fill the new holes. What about the deck lid? I know that with the condensor back there the engine never got wet--I drive the car in the rain sometimes and will anything get hurt back there getting wet? I put all the screws back into the body so all the holes are filled to avoid rust. Thanks again guys and it might be psycological but I think the car is faster now I will take some pics later after I clean some more stuff up.