AC is choking my engine

[Clark Griswald]

Since I live in cool temp Northern Cal and literally never put the top up I removed the AC compressor and braket to save a bit of weight. However I didn't pull the rest of the system out thinking that a future restoral of AC might be in the plans.

I left the condenser coils on the deck lid. They are easy to remove but weigh next to nothing.

Now I am considering the impact of those coils on air flow. The fan moves something like 1500 CFM and it occurs to me that my engine might run a bit cooler if those coils and fins came out. On the other hand it is a big opening, so the coils and fins might not present much resistance to the flow of air.

Does anyone have real world experience with this and does it improve cooling?

I guess another way of asking this is does a non-airconditioned Carrera run significantly cooler than and airconditioned Carrera with the air off?

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Chuck Moreland '86 Cab - "Sparky", '77 Targa - "Sweet Pea"


[This message has been edited by Clark Griswald (edited 08-10-2001).]

[Jim T]

My guess would be that the condensor itself doesn't stop airflow.

However, I would (and did) remove it simply for the fact that the engine compartment looks much cleaner without it, and once the compressor is gone, there is no reason to not remove the condensor. Its a 5 minute job.

Why do you want to leave it on?

[Clark Griswald]

I anticipate putting the AC back someday and if I take it off I have to find a place to store it safely. It weighs nothing so unless airflow is an issue, I prefer to leave it in place.

On the track my car runs hot. So now I am looking for ways to improve cooling.

[Jim T]

I'd rather store it anywhere *except* under the decklid of my car! (Mine is sitting in my attic).

[Early_S_Man]

Clark,

It weighed enough to significantly reduce the lifespan of the gas spring to about 1 year on my car! Since there are too many variations in the oil cooling systems, I would hesitate to make an extrapolation about cooling effects.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[Doug Zielke]

Chuck,
I took out most all my a/c stuff shortly after I bought my car. But just like you, I decided to leave that condensor alone. Then, I looked at how easy it was to remove, so finally took it all out.

Worth exactly 1 needle width on the temp gauge at 70 degrees ambient. (I recall reading somewhere that a needle width is approx 8-10 degrees.) Kinda like what ya get from a Cool Collar

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[rstoll]

Clark, if you plan on putting the A/C back one day, be sure and plug the lines.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944