AC Keep it or remove it?

[911st]

With AC I can enjoy my car more often.

Without it and a bunch of other necessaries I can enjoy it faster (probably in my head as the car is faster than I am anyway).

I suspect the cost to fix it will come back upon resale. I know I have pause when ever I see one where it has been removed.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

People are carrying around a 75-pound system 24-7 to occasionally defog their windshields??? Good thinking.

[Mitch Leland]

Originally Posted by Jetjockey

There are some very hot places in Utah, St. George comes to mind. I don't know if Orem fits into this category. There are many posts about upgrading the A/C. Count on about $1500 if you are willing to do the labor yourself. I would not bother trying to get your current system back up and running unless it has some of these upgraded parts already installed. At a minimum you will need to replace the hoses with a newer "barrier hose". The old hoses will leak about 1.5 pounds of refrigerant per year. The latest and greatest thing is parallel flow condensers. They are only for R134A systems and provide a 30% or so efficiency gain. Good Luck.

JetJockey has it right, if you're going to keep the system then step up to an upgrade so the system puts out cold air. The whole subject is very subjective, it depends on what your needs are and what your comfort level requirements are. Here in Texas if I'm gong to enjoy my car on 90 degree day for a drive with my wife for a Sunday brunch it ain't going to be W/O the A/C. So it's your call...

[RSWiser]

I am going to have it tested for major leaks and problems, then I will make a decision.

It does get hot here in central Utah for about 2 months of the year. Rest of the time just having the top off is great.

Thanks for the opinions.

[Mitch Leland]

Rob,

That's probably a good plan. Keep your options open, drive the car for one summer and see how it works out.

I laughed when you said, "tested for major leaks", I thought to myself is that like being a little bit pregnant?

[berettafan]

pulled mine but mid-atlantic moderate climate.

and on early cars it clutters up an otherwise beautiful view.

come to think of it i have no idea if the fan, etc. switches on my dash even work. have to get the book out and see what they do.

[GH85Carrera]

As you can see the opinions are all over the map. I actually drive my car in the summer and A/C is a must have. I will autocross this weekend and the temp is expected to be 95. The car will be in the sun all day. On the drive home I will be cool in short order. I have driven in 100 degree heat and been quite comfortable in my 911.

[Kevin Stewart]

I wouldnt take it out, id upgrade, sweatin your azz off in a 911 is over rated, Kevin

[joe payne]

real sports cars don't have a/c!

[Mitch Leland]

I read some of this stuff and LOL...

1. I wouldn't take it out, I'd upgrade, sweatin' your azz off in a 911 is over rated, Kevin

2. Real sports cars don't have A/C! , jtp911
__________________

You can't say that Pelicans aren't without their opinions, you gotta love it... For the record I'm a Number "1" guy.

[porsche930dude]

Yea for me it goes something like this. I freeze my butt off 8 months out of the year why would i want to be cold on purpose

[arbita1]

I completely took every AC component out of my 83 SC Targa. It wasn't working to begin with. And it's not a daily driver.

Last summer though I was kind of regretting my decision. Now I think I will eventually put the AC back in with an upgraded Rennaire system.

It does make access to the engine much easier though.

[JohnJL]

Ditch it but leave the dash fans and ducts in place. You can still defog. You lose something like 50 lbs at the ends and up high.

Also allows you to relocate the battery to the smuggler's box.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

A Targa and you need a/c? Maybe you should get a non-sunroof coupe. And Mahopac, fergodsake? You're 15 miles from me, so I know how semi-hot it gets. Don't put it back in. Wait for global cooling; the next ice age is coming.

And yeah, I put the battery in the smuggler's box.

Too bad I didn't know you were there; I just gave away probably $2,000 worth of '83 SC parts via PP's used-parts forum plus the big, unshippable stuff to my local Porsche shop.

[arbita1]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

A Targa and you need a/c? Maybe you should get a non-sunroof coupe. And Mahopac, fergodsake? You're 15 miles from me, so I know how semi-hot it gets. Don't put it back in. Wait for global cooling; the next ice age is coming.

And yeah, I put the battery in the smuggler's box.

Too bad I didn't know you were there; I just gave away probably $2,000 worth of '83 SC parts via PP's used-parts forum plus the big, unshippable stuff to my local Porsche shop.

I know...I know... but there were a couple times I was sweating my a$$ off and really wished I had AC. Don't worry I have many projects that need to be done first. I'll change my mind a gazillion times before then.

Too bad is right! Keep me in mind next time. Thanks.

[ruf-porsche]

My Targa is only a SD (Summer Driver) and I like to turn the ac on with the top off. I would keep it since the LOTUSES don't have AC.

[JohnJL]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

My Targa is only a SD (Summer Driver) and I like to turn the ac on with the top off. I would keep it since the LOTUSES don't have AC.

So you keep your AC out of spite?

[Calgary944]

The 75 lbs weight loss is somewhat noticeable in 2nd & 3rd acceleration on your model. If where you are in Utah isn't too hot, then I'd remove it. I did the same thing and hooked up the fresh air hose to the center A/C vents and have that blowing when traffic isn't moving much.

As for fogging windows, that occurs because the windshield surface (interior) is cooler compared to the cabin air and due to the air moisture. The A/C works to remove the moisture. Warming up the windshield is also effective. Use the heater controls at max and use the fresh air fans. The fresh air fans help push a larger volume of warmed air over the windshield.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, everyone wants MORE heat in a summer rain. I guess that is better than crashing because you can't see!

[marcsalleras]

Originally Posted by mthomas58

As I sit here at 7:30PM in ATL it's 91 degrees in the shade. Had to come in because I can't breathe. Back out to the grill in a moment. I cannot in good conscience make a recommendation to remove A/C from anything-ever!

Im with him on this one, i live in atl too and with the 86 targa it just doesnt cut it, its wayy too hot to go without ac, i bought my 911 with a blown evaporator motor and a blown condensor blower motor, got the condensor motor, ive looked all over for the evaporator motor, near impossible to find (haha and i even work at a porsche mechanic place and our distributor doesnt even sell them, neither does pelican or dc automotive or wold pac.......).........