A/C or no A/C for daily driver?
 

Hello,

First question of many, I suspect. I am wanting to move to a 911 daily driver. The 78 - 89 cars seem to fit all my needs and wants pretty well, with one exception: A/C.

Given the reputation of weak A/C on the pre 86 cars, I am wondering if I should remove them from list. I live in the Portland, Oregon area and was hoping that I could get some feedback from people who do not have A/C and people who have pre 86 cars and their thoughts.

Thanks,

Larry

Owner of an early car (1973) my car came with factory air and recently, I replaced the compressor, new barrier hoses, dryer and charged it with R12.

Pitiful amount of cold air so,,,, I purchased a 3rd condenser with an electric fan that fits inside the left rear wheel well, a new evaporator, a new temperature dial with probe and an infinite fan speed controller, (works much like a radio volume dial, speeds from 0 rpms to maximum fan speed)

With the new system in place, it now blows 30 degree air regardless of the outside air temp.

Parts purchased from Griffiths.

As long as you add more condensor space and a rotary compressor to the earlier cars, they are fine. I've got a '75 with a 2 row condensor under the deck lid, stock condensor behind the front bumper and a static condensor (Performance Aire) under the car. With new barrier hoses running R12 it is plenty cool.

Thanks for the quick responses! Two replies and 21 looks in 11 minutes. This board hops!

I guess I should have asked a better questions. I was aware of the upgrades available, but didn't know how the existing vents could deliver the cold air. Apparently, fine.

Last question, if I can go with out A/C, all the better. Less weight, less spaghetti, etc. Anyone runs a DD without A/C in a similar climate?

Thanks again,

Larry

I also don't think there is a significant improvement for the G50 (87-89) cars. I've read about upgrades to aftermarket systems which are supposed to work well but since my car isn't a daily driver I haven't really considered them as they are expensive.

My A/C worked just fine (it must have been charged pretty well) when I first purchased my car, but I only used it a few of times over the first couple of years so I removed it (by then, it had almost no R12 left). I'm a windows down kind of driver, heat tolerant, and I don't miss the A/C except on the very hottest of days, and that's in NC. Now granted, my driving is almost always that: "driving" (i.e. not sitting in traffic, stoplights, etc.), so YMMV.

ps: One thing to add... I park inside, so getting into a relatively cool car in the afternoon helps a LOT...if she sat in the sun and "baked" all afternoon, that'd probably be a lot worse.

I may not own a 911, but I drove sans a/c in my old 240sx. I too live in NC, but at the time I was in eastern nc where humidity is high, and all my driving was stop and go....I missed it some days, and others it wasn't that bad, I think the worst was one day driving from Raleigh with both windows down, 80 mph down the highway and it never got under 120 degrees inside the car(was using a turbo timer that had interior temp reading as well)

now that i'm in the mountains, and so far seeing less humidity I think I could handle a non a/c car as long as it stayed parked indoors...outdoors..no

my 2 cents....hope this helps

Gray

Living in Ohio, with many 90 degree humid summer days and the fact that my '79 SC has a black interior and sits in the sun at work, I would not drive it the 40 miles each way very often if the AC did not work. My AC is stock except for the 134. It blows cold once on the highway even on hot days, but it only blows cool in town on 90 degree days till I get on the highway. Blowing cool air is much nicer than sitting in traffic on the hot black pavement with the windows down with the 100+ degree asphalt heated air roasting you.

I went to school in eastern NC, and I know what ya mean...I doubt I could tolerate no A/C there either. I lived in Fl right after school, and I welcomed the cooler climate :)

ps: I don't think it would be an issue in OR

Thank you everyone! Great answers.

Larry

the AC on my '79 never worked. I daily drove it for 2+ years in Los Angeles. Year-round. Finally ripped it out. If you don't have to wear a suit to work and you're not a wimp, it's fine. If you worry about your hair getting mussed or sweat on your cufflinks, probably better to consider something else :p

Why not just have one big sticky thread (pun intended) that rolls all of these weekly A/C debates into one?

It's all about what you want out of your car. My A/C system is stock except for a change-over to R-134. It's cool and makes the car comfy to drive on long trips or extended errands. It's not going to freeze you out in five minutes like most modern cars, but it's more than adequate for this area during the dog days.

Brian

I live in Davis, CA were the temps are fairly hot (last week into the 100s). I also pulled the AC from my SC over a year ago.

I'd say morning/eve driving is fine with the windows down, though about one week a year I swear I'm going to make a JO style ice-bucket/pump/water-vest. If it were really humid AC would be a must.

Babak

Here in mid-Missouri I drive year round with no AC except for July and August where the temps and humidity both go over 90. In those months I save driving the 911 for the occasional morning or evening back road drive.

I save the hot and humid days for the 98 M3. Anything less than 80% in Cal is fine with the SC, with the window down. Stereo is the engine.

The A/C on my 79 almost daily driver works fine. It's stock (still has York compressor) and has the front condenser with fan. No complaints at all.

Unless it's really hot (high 90's to 100's), I have to turn it down; gets too cold.

I did take the butterfly off, put a short hose that blows toward me.

It's R12. Have to add a pound every other year.

Airco always gives me a headache. And here in Holland no need.

Haven't had AC on my DD for somthing like 10 yr. Usually not a problem, although as I near 60...

I removed mine. I live in the Seattle area. I have a Ford Ranger with air. The 911 loses weight each time I take something off and then realize that the car will go just fine without putting that part back on. The A/C systems was very much in the way when I tried working on the car.

In the summer time my car, a medium brown metallic, gets hot sitting in the Sun. Like Nostatic says, driving this thing home wearing slacks and a necktie after it has sat in the Sun......would be unpleasant. I used to sneak it into a (covered) commercial carport for the last couple of hours in the afternoon, which cooled it off a bit. I also used to take shorts and a tank shirt to work in a bag. Cruising home in cotton shorts and tank shirt......who needs air?

I live about 60 miles north of Manhattan, in the Hudson River Valley. We have a new Volvo V50, a 2005 Boxster, an '83 SC and a 2000 Audi A4 wagon that our daughter has actually taken off to San Francisco. Never used the a/c in any of them, other than running it every once in awhile to keep the seals lubed. (Actually, the SC lost its a/c totally while I was rebuilding it.)

Air conditioning is for pussies, unless you live in Houston or Florida or the like.

you don't see people with such passion on the issue of air-conditioing any more these days. good on you.

I live in Metro NY area also. Though not a daily driver, I am so happy I removed all that crap from my car— especially in the engine compartment. And to make that even better, I backdated the heater.

I guess I would qualify then. It hit 109 here today and will be in the 100's off & on until October. Last year I installed the Rennaire system II with 134a & replaced everything but the deck lid condensor. Coming home vent temps were in the low 40's :D

Oh I also installed Elephant Racings fan on the oil cooler, & the oil temp needle never got more than a hair above 9:00 on the gauge.

Larry,

I have a '78 SC Targa and live in Puyallup WA (about 12 miles east of Tacoma). My car is a daily driver, and I removed the AC because it didn't work very well and the compressor was always in the way when I was working on the car. It isn't too bad without ac in the Great Northwest. Of course, there are a few days a year when it would be nice. Unlike most cars, the ac isn't used to dry the air before it's heated for the defroster, so deleting it won't affect defogging. I advice driving in the winter with a roll of paper towels handy.

Mike

Liar.....If it is 85-90 and sunny and your car was sitting parked in the sun all afternoon and it has working AC, you used it or you have a screw loose upstairs.
;) :D

Heck, I'm getting my York compressor gold plated. :)

Brian

a lot of old people get kinda weird about using the ac in their car - some kind of remnant from the old days and primitive ac systems.

Even weak ac is a life saver on a hot day, it will at least take the humidity out of the interior. Keep the AC, then upgrade it if you desire.

So he is old and wierd or is he a liar? :D (Does an '05 Boxster even have an AC on/off button or is it automatic like his 2000 Audi basically is? ;) :D )

Open the windows, puss.

Ever flown a C-47 that's been sitting in the sun all day? I'm old enough to have...

Tim:

I've met Mr. Wilkinson on several occasions and I can assure you that all of his screws are NOT loose and in fact, properly torqued to spec,...:) :)

I think the important change is in 1986 which gives you much bigger side vents.

My 911 is my daily driver and on weekends I usually have my 4 yo daughter in the car with me.

Here in CA it was over 100 degrees last week.

When the cell phone rings, you can't answer an important phone call with the widows down in a 911, ****, you can barely hold a call with the windows up... and with the windows up on a 100 degree day you are cookin.

AC is a necessity for me... it if was a track car the AC would be removed.

Believe it or not, there are those of us who don't even use cellphones, particularly in a moving car.

Can't drive the car without A/C in Texas...
Spent a lot of money on upgrading to Rennaire, barrier hoses, new condenser....worth every penny and will always be a priority, no sense in having a car without a/c over here.
Back in Europe I never had a/c...

Houston. I excepted Houston and Florida. Let me add Mexico, Iwo Jima and the Sahel.

You think I'm moving? Freeway after work is a parking lot.

There are those that do and those that shouldn't :mad:

..same could be said for walking and chewing gum at the same time.

I have a GREAT AC system in my car... its from a company called RFS, or Right Foot Systems. Talk about AIR FLOW!!!

Yeow!

-Michael

Ditch it. Mine never worked, it was like having a 75 year old with emphysema blow on you. I ripped it all out, lines, wiring, everything. much cleaner engine compartment, not to mention a little weight savings. i love driving with the windows down and sunroof open. only problem is hot days when its raining, but otherwise, I couldn't be happier.