A/C Worth Installing?

arbita1 · arbita1's Garage

My car came with the compressor and the front condenser removed. My original plan was to install them and update the system to R-134.

However, hearing how the A/C is basically useless, another part of me just wants to leave it removed and actually remove the rest of the A/C related pieces.

What are your thoughts for those who have A/C.

Tim Hancock · 03-22-2007, 12:08 PM

I do not track my '79 SC. That said, I will take my stock York compressor and DIY 134 conversion any day over no AC when commuting 40 miles each way to work on 85+ summer days. It is marginal when first starting out in stop and go traffic (still better than nothing), but once on the highway, it does just fine even on 90+ days.

Is it as good as the modern average car in stop and go traffic? No, but it is much better than no AC.

01sport · 03-22-2007, 12:35 PM

My 87 has 40k. I have recently decided to start driving it more often. I am happy to report that after lots of DIY I am having a great time both driving and working on my car.

One of the reasons I haven't driven it in the past it is that the A/C does not work. After lots of research I purchased the Rennair System II with Desert Duty front condenser. Looking forward to installing this system next month over a couple weekends.

My car is 100% street driven so A/C will make it a year round car for me. I think it will be well worth it.

Jeff

Jim727 · 03-22-2007, 01:12 PM

My car is a '71. For me, a/c makes the difference between driving the car in the (ugh) summer or not. The car did not come with a/c so I installed it myself by going to EASY (local Porsche salvager) and pulling the factory parts from a '74: wiring looms, front condenser, box, and fan, evaporator and ducting, compressor mounts and rear condenser. Definitely not useless - makes the car quite comfortable and I have never regretted installing it.

First upgrade was to a Sanden rotary compressor. Second upgrade was to replace the old hoses with new barrier hoses, a RennAire Pro-Cooler, a Griffiths evaporator (bigger and a work of art), and the Griffiths continuously-variable fan speed controller. I stayed with R-12 which appears to be more effective than 134. Will know the results soon as it's going in to be charged.

You definitely want that front condenser in the system if you decide to put it back together.

Jack Olsen · 03-22-2007, 02:50 PM

Yeah, it depends on the climate. I remember before I had AC I was optimistic -- hot temps were going to be a test of my Porsche mettle. In reality, you just end up deciding not to go out when it's really hot (or at least, that's how it worked for me).

Then again, AC adds weight -- which is also important to me. So recently, I took it off again. But I've got a plan to cool the driver (with a 12V freezer and Cool-Shirt-like plumbing in the seat and (and harness) which will be removeable on days when it's not needed, but (hopefully) will make the car survivable on longer summer drives.

sig_a · 03-22-2007, 03:14 PM

As of last weekend, mine is gone. No automobile or residential A/C system is designed to last 20 years. A future owner might want to reinstall, but it will be with all new components. The advantages to a DIY owner are obvious and I'm glad it's gone.