Air conditioner removal

[carlosR]

Hello, new Porsche owner here. I have a 1977 911S and I am looking at how to remove the air conditioner or do you think I should have a good shop do it? Or so you recommend I leave it? I want to keep this car original other than this. Of course I would not consider messing with the coolant myself.

[Dueller]

Have a shop evacuate the coolant. Then have at it yourself. Very simple to just take the compressor out. A little more involved to remove all the lines, evaporator etc, but certaainly a DIY job.

[ShakinJoe]

Are you trying to remove it to repair it...or just remove it because it does not work??

It is a pretty simple process.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by ShakinJoe

Are you trying to remove it to repair it...or just remove it because it does not work??

It is a pretty simple process.

+1
If you're not concerned about weight, and the visible components (read dash vents, controls, knee pads) are not trashed, why not keep it even if it doesn't work? Many just remove the compressor and condensor coils from the engine bay and leave the rest. As others have said, a complete removal is not too difficult and fairly obvious when you look at it. Whatever you do, keep all removed parts and store them so you can pass them on to the next buyer.

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

+1
If you're not concerned about weight, and the visible components (read dash vents, controls, knee pads) are not trashed, why not keep it even if it doesn't work? Many just remove the compressor and condensor coils from the engine bay and leave the rest. As others have said, a complete removal is not too difficult and fairly obvious when you look at it. Whatever you do, keep all removed parts and store them so you can pass them on to the next buyer.

+1 on it being a DIY job except the freon charge (if there's any left). Agreed that you should save all the parts to pass along especially if your car should ever become a collectable. If you ever decide to return to an A/C car you will replace nearly everything except some of the mounting pieces so there isn't any downside to removing all the old stuff. But you will get rid of at least 70 lbs. if you remove everything until you decide. The old materials and components are junk (there I went and said it) and there is so much good A/C stuff available from Griffiths or Rennaire that you'd start over from scratch anyway. There are some absolutely fabulous threads here on Pelican on upgrading and/or deleting A/C so you should find everything you need right here.

[frankc]

I removed the A/C on my 77 as well (nearly 20 years ago) as I never used it. The majority of the components are the compressor, condenser (only 1 on the engine lid for 77s), lines, dryer, and the evaporator+fan in the smugglers box.

Note that after you remove the evaporator/fan, the center and side dash vents will no longer have a function in life as they only discharge A/C air. To really complete the job, and make your car a true non-A/C vehicle such that the center and side vents discharge fresh (but not warm) air, you will need to replace quite a bit of plumbing in the cowl area. I have thread started on this process (which I haven't finished yet), but realize that this is pretty much the point of no return...

Retrofitting non-A/C ventilation ducts

good luck and let me know if you have any questions or need any pictures along the way.

Frank

[frankc]

One more thing, leaving the evaporator/fan unit in the smugglers box just to get (non A/C) air out of the dash vents doesn't buy you much as it is simply recycled cabin air recovered from the passenger's foot well area.

Frank

[carlosR]

Hey thanks for the info. I kind of doubt that there is much Freon left but I'll have a shop take care of that then tackle the compressor, etc. I'm only eliminating the heavy parts not a complete uninstall and I will keep them in the parts locker. Thanks again and I will try and be an active member of this forum.