Why would owner remove the AC belt??
 

I am a newbie that's in the process of looking for a sharp looking and solid 911. I have viewed a few online that have pictures of the engine missing the AC belt. What would cause a owner to remove the AC belt?

seized compressor....

yep.....my comp was siezed when i bought it and the owner left the belt on, another sign of a siezed comp is belt "shavings/debris" in the corner of the engine bay.

Be very careful with "conversion" cars too. You have to wonder about how well the aftermarket parts were hung, and what might have prompted the change (ie an accident).

It may not be seized up. Removing the belt frees up a couple of HP. Reduced friction.

I removed my AC belt to free up some HP. I didn't actually notice any more HP, but I was told it frees up some.

When I bought my 90 C2 last year, the A/C belt was missing. I replaced the belt and with a few ounces of freon the A/C works fine.

You may want to have the owner replace the belt to make sure the compressor isn't seized, if you find one you want to buy.

Gary

Put one on and you'll know. It doesn't make a difference;)

One last consideration. I take my a/c belt off before I go to the track with my car...JUST IN CASE I lose the main fan belt. It happened once and I was glad the a/c belt was out of the way when installing (Ouch!) the new (Man that's hot!) fan belt. Saves quite a few minutes; important when you're running between your car and a student's!

Removing the belt really doesn't free up any more HP. That's because the belt turning the compressor clutch when it's not on really doesn't use any energy. You might feel a slight difference, but I doubt that you would get more performance than simply removing the weight of your spare tire from the trunk...

-Wayne

I bought a car earlier in the year that had the compressor belt removed. The PO told me that it was to free up HP. I knew damned well that the A/C just didn't work for whatever reason. I didn't care because I removed the whole damned mess two months later. The old compressor can't be rebuilt anymore anyway. I don't believe that removing the belt when the compressor is not engaged would make much of a difference in performance. However, removal of: compressor, evaporator, fan, condensors, dryer/receiver and all hoses made a hell of a difference in the form of about 150 lbs. of weight.

Granted, it depends on the intended use of he vehicle.

I guess in your total weight savings you're also counting your 100 pound girlfriend/wife who won't ride in the now, hot car, anymore?

Interesting strategy...:D

Hello

Driving the AC belt doesn´t need much power. If you engage the magnet clutch on the compressor you loose power.

Removing the belt from a non working system makes aminatince easier and lowers the risk that a neglet AC belt can crack and snap the fanbelt.

Also early 911 didn´t had a underpressure cout out device so you gould run the compressor even withot pressure and oil in the system.

Grüsse

My car had the A/C belt removed when I test drove it, the owner insisted it was for HP savings. When he delivered it, he'd installed a belt and the A/C actually worked! :) You never know.

-Boyo

For even more AC information, on my car (89 coupe), the full open sensor in the throttle body shuts off the compressor on hard accelerator. I removed the compressor, hoses and top condensor in my car as will soon remove everything else.