Removing the air con in a middie.

[coolngroovy]

Hi guys,
I have set aside this weekend to remove the air con in my '74.

I have to stop looking at the 'clean engine bay' threads! LOL
Now that i have, this will be done! I hate dirty engine bays, but at the same time, i'me a little aprehensive. I've made sooooo many mistakes to date.

Does anyone have any hints or tips on this topic?
I don't want a step by step, just input on any pitfalls.
Lord knows i need it.
Cheers, Col.

[PRE-H20]

what are you gonna do with the AC?

i have a 74 also.... no a/c

[coolngroovy]

Probably sell it off.

I have a Targa, why do i need air?

It is not factory air. Aftermarket fitted early in the cars life.
Cheers, Col.

[PRE-H20]

does it work well?

did you do the install?

your right... no reason for air with a targa!

what are you looking to get for it?

is a bold on situation?

[austin552]

I need A/C in my 74 coupe also. Let me know.

[rdrr]

Hey Col,
I just removed my A/C from my '76 last weekend. This is how I did mine:

1. Start by getting the system professionally evacuated.
2. Remove the compressor and the bracket. This gives you some room in the engine bay for later, when you remove the hoses. I had a later style compressor, so my experience probably won't help much. You may need to remove the muffler to get at the bracket mounting points.
3. Remove the decklid condensor. Depending on how this has been done, you may require new nuts/bolts to secure your decklid grill. I did.
4. Take out your passenger floormat and floorboard. You will now be able to access the evaporator. It bolts to the floor, and the firewall. (I'm working off memory here as my 76 is LHD(so the evap is in the smuggler's box), but I've also removed the AC from my 89 which is RHD - I did that job a couple of years ago).
5. Take the side sill covers off. You'll need to remove the rubber sill strip first to access some of the bolts.
6. Remove the front condensor - not sure on this as neither of my cars had front condensors, but instead had some aftermarket fender mount condensors. It should sit just behind the front bumper mounted to the bottom of the pan with a protective cover over it. You may also have a blower in the trunk.
7. Remove the receiver dryer. It's mounted with two metal brackets and is in the passenger side front wheel well.
8. Now all you have left is the hoses. On my first A/C delete I cut them to make removal easier, but regretted it. On my recent delete I got them all out intact. The key is not to get impatient . First, take off all the brackets. There are a lot of them. You'll need to jack up the car, especially for the brackets near the engine bay and the trunk. Then start feeding the hoses through from the inside/engine bay, and pull them out from the outside. You'll probably have to go back and forth a few times.
9. That's it, I think, except for the electricals. That's a job I still have in front of me for the 76.

Hopefully this will be of some help to you. Good luck!

edit - just realised you didn't want a step by step. Now that I've done it, I might as well leave it there

[coolngroovy]

Cheers guys.
Thanks for the input.
I shall attempt to remove without cutting anything.
Already my regret is that my camera has died!

Thanks for the offers to purchase guys, but i think sending the unit stateside would be uneconomical.
Bright & early tomorrow morning, my middie will be lighter!

I didn't do the install, it was ordered by the PO. I dont know if it works or not. When i bought the car, there was no A/C belt installed. It was amongst the bits & pieces stored in the hood though!
I don't have a good track record regarding working A/C in any of my cars. I've resigned myself to the fact that me & A/C don't seem to get along.
This will at least make the changing of plugs a little easier if nothing else.

I have no p/s floor board, but that is a subject for another day.
The drier is located in the p/s floor well. I know it intimately from doing the pedal cluster rebuild. I had to sneak it out of the way.
I will attempt to borrow a camera for this. Even for just my own reflection.
Again, thanks to all for your input.
Cheers, Col.

[coolngroovy]

Well that was painless!
Took about 4hours & i didn't destroy anything.

Hardest part is getting the side rubber back on.

Thanks again for the input guys.
Now, time for the detail job.