89BlueTA

Hey guys I was just curious what everyone else thought. My engine is torn down due to a blown head gasket. So it would be a perfect time to take ALL of the A.C. stuff off the car. The only thing holding me back is that it is so cool when you see a street car running 11-12 sec 1/4 mile times and the A.C. still works. Now my car does not run that fast and the A.C. does not work since it is out of refrigirant. But someday it will I hope, thanks for your opinions guys!

Nick

ThirdGenZ28 92

Depends on your climate and how often you use your AC or want to use it. For me the Z28 served daily duty for the last 5 years and in that time I hardly used the AC. Now its 5 years, later not MINT as it was and is gonna become my weekend toy and since my AC was dead I ordered a 1LE ac delete pully and scrapped the AC and its hardware to shed weight, free up a lil drag and it makes the engine more accessable. Im gonna do it right and find a 1LE non ac heater box someday but I have better things to waste my $ on than that so I left the factory heater box in place so I have heat in the winter...

rockind78

Hey Nick!

I don't know where Tecumseh is, but I have lived in Michigan all my life and I would never take the A/C out of any of my cars. in fact, when the TPI goes on my chevelle this spring, I am hoping to put A/C in too. If you really don't want the drag, just do what ThirdGenZ28 92 did and order a non-a/c pulley. That way if you ever want to restore it, it won't be as much work. I can tell you there are other ways to lose weight. I don't think losing the A/C would take much more than a tenth (tops) off your times.

cort351w

Yeah, but Chevelle has lots of room under the hood; third gen has little.

89BlueTA

Well tecumseh is just southwest of ann arbor, and I just like all the extra room I would have without the A.C. compressor and the non-AC heater box in the engine comp. The A.C does not work and I keep telling myself that I will fix it, but I know that I am not going to. I think I will just take it all off and save it, then if some time in the future I need I can put it back on. The only time I need AC is on hot days when it is raining, but I usually do not drive it in the rain. I have to say that I love the AC in my truck.

thanks guys
nick

camaro6spd

no, you well regret it. Take out the AIR stuff.....that takes up lots of rooms. It would be SO much easier to do tune up and such with out those damed little tubes......re-route the CAT one if you want that way it is still getting the o2 it needs.

89BlueTA

All emissions equipment is already gone, the damn heater box just takes up so much room!!

primo

Do you take the engine out to replace the head gasket ?
Are you able to take the ignitiion out wwith the engine in the car?

As you can see I'm not a mechanic.

Thanks.

nblanchard

Well, it must be just me... but I believe in leaving it all in... A/C doesn't take power until you turn on (if it does, it uses very little), and I beleive you may be able to simply get a non-AC belt to bypass it, I will check on that. But I would keep it. Your car is pretty quick, my GTA stock prolly would've done 15.8 or something, it did 16.8 my first time out, because of a bummed computer. It is now running 14.559, I have done a few things, and I hope to get into low 14's. No major mods.

89BlueTA

Primo- I ended up leaving the engine in the car, I debated for a few days whether I should just pull it out. The head gasket is not that difficult to do with the engine still in the car. I am not sure what you mean by ignition, but pretty much everything comems out excpet for the block and acc. Hope this helps.

NBlanchard- I would have to get the AC delete pulley to go around the AC, I now the power difference is going to be nil, it is just more for a cleaner engine compartment.

I think if I can find a non-AC heater box a the junk yard this weekend I will take it out. I will just keep all the parts and if I decide I want it in the future I will put it back on. If it still worked I would keep it!

thanks guys
nick

ploegi

The last time I checked, Fosters in Adrian had a couple thirdgens in the yard, may be able to get the non a/c heater box from them.

Or, a friend of mine runs his own garage, and does a/c repair. You can call him at 265 1553. (Ray's auto). He is on 223 just south east of Adrian, is a very nice guy, and quite honest. I have been working with/for him for years, and he does great work. (also does custom exhaust.......)

Mkos1980

iTrader: (8)

I have have loved my ac out o fmy car and when it ripped out the header box and put in the ac box i still got my heat and when i put it to cold i get cold air. I also ripped out the Heater diverter valve also since that was of no use and 1LE cars do not use that part.

nblanchard

getting rid of the diverter valve may be of some interest of me, because I hat the look of it

89BlueTA

Thanks Ploegi, I will check fosters out on saturday, I am not exactly sure were it is at. But I should be able to find it.

I am looking for a shop that does mandrel bending, the only place I know of is in toledo. But the exhaust work has been put on hold, so the dual flex pipe (lol), will have to stay for a little while.

nick

I really like that clean engine look MKos!

wataru

I bought the ac delete pulley and took out the heater box and I dont regret it. Its just so damn easy to tighten those headder bolts without it their.

ir0cz

Even if you don't use the AC that much, keep the AC for 2 reasons. 1. It ads class to ur ride. 2. I dunno if you're married, have a GF, or whatnot, but when you're out on a date w/ a hot chick, and she wants some AC, you better have some AC! We all know that you want it off for speed, but all a chick thinks is "he doesn't have AC, his car is a POS"....but now that I think of it, who cares what they think? haha

91-ZZ4-Z28

Also remember that your AC system runs in the winter. When you turn on your front defroster it makes dry air to defog your windshield. If this is your daily driver keep it.

When you get around to fixing it get a 134a conversion kit $30 or so plus a recever/dryer for about $40 and you will be good. Old r12 is about $50 a pound now.

MikeH

iTrader: (10)

I would keep it....it dosent cost anything in the way of power. If you decide to sale, the car will bring more money.