Remove Ac

[poorsha]

Just picked up a 78 SC and want to remove all of the AC stuff.
Anything I hould be aware of?
I have no experience with AC as all of my previous earlier 911s have been AC free.
Thanks.

[Zef]

Good thing to do if the system is full of gaz is to have it emptyed by a good AC shop to help the ozone layer a bit....after this...nothing to be aware of...

[ianc]

+1 on evacuating the freon. You might want to carefully check the release valve first (with suitable protection of course). If it hasn't been used in awhile, it's probably stone empty.

Pull out everything you can see, including the blower motor in the smuggler's boot, lines under the car, and condenser and fan in the front trunk.

You'll need to make a couple of blockoff plates from sheet metal for the holes between the smuggler's boot and cabin, and the hole from the front condenser fan in the front. Use the existing holes\screws to attach them.

Best would be to remove the compressor mount as well, but that will probably have to wait for the engine to come out.

Good luck and look forward to much easier valve adjusts!

ianc

[poorsha]

Thanks for the inout guys.
The system is empty.
I have started in the engine compartment but was not sure where the lines ran.
I will get the car up off the floor and have a look under her tonight.
Looks like I should be able to loose a few pounds here.
Cheers.

[Zef]

You can remove the compressor mount with the engine in situ...I've done it...

[burgermeister]

Compressor mount removal was easy ... once the muffler was off. The muffler - not so much.

[gtc]

Removing the rear wheels was helpful on mine. There were some very difficult to reach clamps hiding behind them. The hoses took a lot of pulling and wiggling to get them out of the engine compartment as well as around the windshield washer reservoir.
I'm still trying to figure out if I can remove the smugglers box evaporator and retain the fan... I like using it on hot days.

[Superman]

It should all come out without too much trouble. I was able to take mine out without doing any cutting, but I have a suggestion. I still have all my parts, including hoses, in boxes. I was thinking just recently that it doesn't need to take up that much room. I can't imagine ever reinstalling that stuff, but I've kept it because it is valuable to someone who wants to install A/C in a 911. But....they certainly wouldn't want 25 year-old non-barrier hose. So....next time I deal with that box of hoses, I'm going to cut the ends off and toss the hose. The old ends can be reused, once, but the hoses are just taking up useless space. Knowing this up front could speed removal.

[poorsha]

Thanks again all.
Superman, did you have to do something with the holes where the hoses run into the engine compartment?
What about any other holes.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Superman

So....next time I deal with that box of hoses, I'm going to cut the ends off and toss the hose. The old ends can be reused, once, but the hoses are just taking up useless space. Knowing this up front could speed removal.

You might rethink that. I you re-install, or sell it, the hoses are wonderful to use as patterns for cutting the right length for new barrier hoses, THEN cut the ends off and re-use them.

Makes the job a LOT easier.

[rs6er]

Originally Posted by gtc

Removing the rear wheels was helpful on mine. There were some very difficult to reach clamps hiding behind them. The hoses took a lot of pulling and wiggling to get them out of the engine compartment as well as around the windshield washer reservoir.
I'm still trying to figure out if I can remove the smugglers box evaporator and retain the fan... I like using it on hot days.

I removed everything except the fan in the smuggler's box. I like using it on hot and also on humid days.

[JeremyD]

So - any other tips besides removing the rear wheels? I am about to start on this adventure (although replacing with new hoses)

[poorsha]

Keep them tips a comin

[zevenbergena]

I removed the first 50% of my AC no prob, I don't have any mechanic experience and even I could figure out the unscrewing things process. I'm about to go out to the garage and start pulling stuff from the smugglers box and it didn't look too scary last night when I was getting ready. I pulled my center console inside and have those switch wires I want to get out of there.

[Ed scuba]

Originally Posted by zevenbergena

I don't have any mechanic experience and even I could figure out the unscrewing things process.

You mean the lefty loosy,righty tighty thing. LOL

[richde]

Originally Posted by burgermeister

Compressor mount removal was easy ... once the muffler was off. The muffler - not so much.

The tough part about mine was the bracket bolted to the forward end of the compressor bracket on my '84. It's under the fuel rail and only enough room to get about a quarter turn at a time with an allen wrench, and it's a long bolt.

Ended up cutting the driver's side hose to make it easier to pull it out through the engine compartment. Passenger side was easy for some reason. Driver's fender area was a pain as well.

[CMXI]

Originally Posted by Zef

You can remove the compressor mount with the engine in situ...I've done it...

+1.

Nemas problemas.

[sig_a]

I did a complete removal about 1 year ago. And I'm glad I did.

Keep all the hardware. Good idea about keeping the hoses regarding measurement for someone wanting to go R134.

There are at least 50 sheet metal fasteners used to hold hose brackets to underside of car. They should be replaced back into the holes including the small rubber washer to prevent water infiltration. The two large holes at each front corner of the engine compartment should also be filled and caulked water tight. These are the two holes for the 1 inch diameter hoses. I fashioned from an old sponge two plugs to fill up the holes. I then covered the sponge plugs with duct tape and pressed them into the holes from underneath the car. Then I used clear silicone caulk to hold them in place and form a watertight seal. Worked well. Front fan duct must be covered and sealed. I used sheet metal cut from the pattern made from copying fan mounting base including the 4 screw holes. Covered the fabricated metal plate with duct tape and sealed with silicone clear caulk. The front inlet port for the fan needs to be filled with a fabricated plate to prevent water from flooding your trunk. I used cardboard covered with two layers of duct tape to waterproof and fitted/caulked into place from the inside of the trunk. It would be better to fab out of sheet metal, but I didn't want to drill any holes in the body of the car. Works good so far. To remove the pain in the ass compressor bracket you have to remove muffler. Also as mentioned before bracket is alos attached under fuel injector rail parallel to cyl 4, 5, 6. Tricky. I pulled everything from smuggler's box. Also the dryer from driver side wheel well. You need to fill dryer mounting holes as well. I used body plugs available from most auto parts stores. One other thing. I fitted a sheet metal plate to cover the 1 by 4 inch void left by removing the compressor. This will keep dry dirt and road sand from entering the topside of the engine. Again, I used sheet metal, and used the existing engine tin fastener to hold in place.

[Hendog]

Just curious; but has anynone weighed all the material they've removed to see what the savings are?

[Noel]

I removed mine a few years ago and put everything in a large Rubbermaid container and I remember the weight being around 85lbs or so and that includes the heavy conpressor mountings and everything fromt and rear. I know that the Carreras have lighter compressor mounting plates.