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removin A/C compressor for more space

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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 06:11 PM
  #1  
86FirebirdV8350's Avatar
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Car: 91' Firebird
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removin A/C compressor for more space

I'm going to remove my ac compressor this weekend to free up space under the hood and was wondering if i unhook the rubber hoses and stuff and take the compressor out, will any fluids shoot out of the metal tank that hook into on the passenger side? I think its called freon? well whatever the case is, im removin the compressor and that was my only question...
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 06:33 PM
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From: Monticello, IN USA
Car: 1991 Z-28
Engine: 350
Transmission: T-5 (gonna buy the farm)
THere is a lubrication oil in with the freon. When I took mine out, I got sprayed real good with the cold stuff. The oil stained my cloths, and the freon does not taste real good. I think you would be better off to release the pressure on the high, and low side through the valves.
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 06:45 PM
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yes, release any and all pressure before you even mess with tearing your ac apart.
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 08:55 PM
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From: north plainfield, nj
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thats if ur A/C has pressure. i know min had a slight hiss when i opened mine to take it off and that was it.
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 09:03 PM
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Originally posted by Timz2882
thats if ur A/C has pressure. i know min had a slight hiss when i opened mine to take it off and that was it.
.

True. Does your ac work very good or at all? If you have a leak or need recharging you may not have any pressure or much at all. Its always good to check though.
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 09:06 PM
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just recently took my a/c out, alot more space now..
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-ac3.jpg  
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 09:25 PM
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From: Ocean State, lil Rhody, the biggest littlest state in the union, Rhode Island
Car: 1988 GTA Black/Gray
Engine: Blown 355
Transmission: 700R4
I am amazed at the amount of room to be found under all the A/C plumbing. Even more to be found when you **** can the smog pump.
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-l98-heads-021.jpg  
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 09:26 PM
  #8  
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From: Ocean State, lil Rhody, the biggest littlest state in the union, Rhode Island
Car: 1988 GTA Black/Gray
Engine: Blown 355
Transmission: 700R4
Another.
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-l98-heads-022.jpg  
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 09:49 PM
  #9  
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From: Monticello, IN USA
Car: 1991 Z-28
Engine: 350
Transmission: T-5 (gonna buy the farm)
I have mucho space now too!!
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-dirtyengine1web.jpg  
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Old Apr 4, 2003 | 11:52 PM
  #10  
formul8!!'s Avatar
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Car: 2004 GTO
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
..
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Old Apr 5, 2003 | 12:22 AM
  #11  
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The pressure valve is covered by that little black cap stickin' off the side, that points in the general direction of the distributor cap. Remove the cap, throw a shop rag over the whole thing, and stick a phillips head in there, it's just like deflating a tire. That's what I did. Keep in mind that my AC was all but dead. It let out freon for about 5 or 6 seconds. If your's isn't that bad, that's a lot of harmful chemicals released into the air. Have it drained at a local shop. You wouldn't pour coolant or oil in the sewer would you?
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Old Apr 5, 2003 | 10:04 AM
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Engine: 383 ci
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Axle/Gears: 9 bolt / 3:70
....
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-00-.jpg  
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Old Apr 5, 2003 | 10:06 AM
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From: Central Coast Calif.
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Axle/Gears: 9 bolt / 3:70
Another
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-00-.jpg  
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Old Apr 5, 2003 | 04:50 PM
  #14  
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I'm assuming that some ceramic headers are on the way. Yes?
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 01:48 AM
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before.......
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-jeffs-engine-bay.jpg  
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 01:49 AM
  #16  
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almost finished after..........
Attached Thumbnails removin A/C compressor for more space-jeffs-new-engine-trailer  

Last edited by Kandied91z; Apr 6, 2003 at 01:52 AM.
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 02:23 PM
  #17  
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
I would like to have more space too, because of something I want to add there. What do you guys do about Serpentine belts?
Do you need to get a different one?
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 02:45 PM
  #18  
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for mine i had to reroute the belt and get a 2 inch bigger one i think thats how bigger it was.. keep in mind i bought the a/c delete pulley and also got rid of my smog pump..
if you keep the smog pump, you can reuse the same belt and keep the stock belt routing..

over a/c delete pulley, under the tensioner, over the alternator, under the power steering, over the water pump,under the crank pulley then the belt goes over the a/c delete..
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 04:36 PM
  #19  
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depends on how your going to use your space. i had to reroute my alternator in doing this i couldn't use the stock serpentine setup so i had to go with a march kit and use a v6 style alternator casing.
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 05:41 PM
  #20  
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From: Blacksburg, VA
Car: '92 Rally Sport
Engine: LO3
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by Kandied91z
almost finished after...
Hey Kandied, how did you hide the wiring harness where it normally passes along the top of the firewall just under the cowl on the passenger side?

Later,
Harry
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 05:43 PM
  #21  
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i haven't yet, you can still see it..........when i'm done hopefully you won't see hardly any wires at all. everything is still new so it's temporarily placed in the best place possible for now just to get things running good.
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 05:44 PM
  #22  
REVLIMIT's Avatar
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From: Hawaii
Car: 1984 Chevy Camaro
Engine: Built L98
Transmission: T-56 6 speed
hey how much did the a/c system weight? I want to shave off some lbs from my car and I dont use the a/c. Just wondering how much it'll shave. Thanks. I'm guessing....25-30lbs?
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 05:49 PM
  #23  
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From: Blacksburg, VA
Car: '92 Rally Sport
Engine: LO3
Transmission: 700R4
If you remove ALL of the A/C equipment it's more like 40-50 lbs.
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 06:01 PM
  #24  
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yeah it isn't so much the compressor but the "radiator" pieces and the larger motors. i removed it because mine quit working and i didn't want to pay 300+ to fix it so i yanked it. i couldn't tell you the exact weight of each part off the car because i removed the a/c, a.ir.r, the stock serpentine setup, and everything else that i possibly could that was holding me down.

however, the box that all the a/c stuff is in weighs just over 60. i think it cleans up the bay alot; however the luxury of air is nice once and awhile when you don't have t-tops..........i'm sure i'll wish i had it now that i don't this summer.
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 06:37 PM
  #25  
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From: Cheektowaga., NY, USA
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI LO3
Ok guys..ive been wanting to get rid of my ac for a long time ...can one of you guys that did it make a detailed tech article as to how to do it. People are like yea, just pull this this this, get this from a junkyard, do this this this..well some guys like me dont know what the hell you're saying. Im looking for somethin w/part numbers, what hoses and parts to remove, descriptions, etc. so i dont mess anything up. if you guys could do that it would be greatly appreciated.
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 10:18 PM
  #26  
86FirebirdV8350's Avatar
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From: Connecticut
Car: 91' Firebird
Engine: 3.1L V6
Transmission: WC T5
I just pulled that sucker this morning, very nice, i only removed the compressor for now, i'll tackle the tank next weekend, time is limited
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Old Apr 6, 2003 | 10:59 PM
  #27  
86FirebirdV8350's Avatar
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From: Connecticut
Car: 91' Firebird
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umm, how would i go about removing that tank? aka the one that all the hoses went into...hmmm
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Old Apr 7, 2003 | 12:05 AM
  #28  
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
It sounds like a bit of work to remove the AC. Since I plan on living in the Southern area and don't have T-tops, I'll hang on to it for awhile, until I get another car with AC.
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Old Apr 7, 2003 | 10:19 AM
  #29  
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I just ran a bunch of searches on here, did some research and in about 2 days had my a/c out, with the new heater box in, the a/c delete pulley in, smog pump and all hoses out, capped the manifolds.

total cost was about 88 bucks for the new heater box, 40 something for the a/c delete pulley, 17 bucks for a new belt.
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Old Apr 7, 2003 | 03:58 PM
  #30  
formul8!!'s Avatar
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From: www.thirdgentech.com
Car: 2004 GTO
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
Check here:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=163176

Last edited by formul8!!; Apr 7, 2003 at 04:00 PM.
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Old Apr 7, 2003 | 08:14 PM
  #31  
86FirebirdV8350's Avatar
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From: Connecticut
Car: 91' Firebird
Engine: 3.1L V6
Transmission: WC T5
i just took out the ac compressor, it didnt need one of those belts because there was never a belt going to it so i was pullin dead weight....i dont really need one of those non a/c fans or whatever we're talkin about it just wanna know how to take out that metal canister thats kinda in front of the box on the passenger side...i havent really looked at it yet to remove it, but are the bolts accessible through the engine bay or underneath? any info would be great...thanx
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