Dakota W. you are right in a sense.You would have to remove the belt from the AC to keep the HP up,but not all engines have that option.

 

All engines have the option. I have serp belt, I just ran a short belt. I removed the compressor and smog pump, and got a different pulley for the belt tensioner and routed the belt differently.

 

If the ac clutch isn't engaged, the compressor isn't turning, unlike those other devices. I'm older; I'd rather have the AC, than the extra 1/poofteenth hp that the pulley is sucking up by belt and bearing friction

 

The compressor isn't turning no, but the pulley on the compressor is turning, and as I stated earlier, they aren't zero friction pulleys.

 

I meant just removing the belts that are not serpentine,the older ones don't use the serpentine belts.

 

The same theory applies to the power steering. It weighs 20lbs plus and pulls a lot more belt power than the A/C with the AC off so those who think get rid of A/C should go to a manual steering box. For the amount of time your racing vs cruising or going to work or just driving the A/C and power steering more than earn there keep by making life much more easy. If its a trailer car and only drag raced then shure gut the thing but otherwise the 1/16th of 1 horsepower the A/C might pull with it off and the 40lbs of weight would not make the car 5 car lenghts quicker. Half the year when it is 80 degrees and hotter the A/C would be very handy to cool you off and defrost-defog your windshield. There was a time when most cars did not have A/C and you cannot miss what you have not had. This day and time most people have A/C and would not put up with a ride that did not have it. In the 60s and early 70s a solid lifter GM car (69Z28) and (LS6 Chevelle) could not be ordered with A/C but this day and time a 638HP ZR-1 comes standard with A/C. Times change, people change and so do cars so people will buy them. How many people would buy a new viper, Z06, ZR-1 or Shelby Mustang without A/C or power steering?

 

All you have to do with a V belt is just cut/revmove the belt going to the a/c. I thought you were implying that Serp belt systems don't have the option.

 

Living in WA I've had one Thirdgen with working A/C and never really used it. Only car I pulled the system out of was the car I put a turbo one because the down pipe went right through the heater box.

That is very typical for cars around here, though. The A/C systems don't get used, so when they break nobody spends the money to fix them. Never had issues with the defrost not working well enough without the A/C, but doesn't get that humid here and it really doesn't get both warm and rainy at the same time.

 

tell you a short story. When I was 17 years old I had at that time my 87 formula hardtop. I was young all I cared about was speed and did any and everything I could to get it. Had v belts so took out everything. Of course it was hotter then hell in the car my passengers would really not like riding with me in the summer months. Fast forward 10 years. I'm 27 drive a 91 formula first mod I did to this car was fix the AC. I'm running 134a and let me tell you its crazy hot here in chicago 99 degrees right now and all last week over 100. I could not be happier with my ac. Its performing very well I'm happy and all my passengers are to. I love telling people at the car shows my ac system runs so well. Most cars there I see the owners sweating. To big thumbs up for keeping ac.