Right off the bat I'd like to establish that I am already dead set on restoring the A/C system in my car. However, the amount of people I convey this idea with who give me the whole, "I don't ever use my A/C. I don't see why you're putting it back" and comments all over TGO such as, "A/C should have never been installed into a T-Top car" has peaked my curiosity.

I simply don't understand how people trash talk A/C in high humidity, triple degree temperatures like It's cutting half of their horsepower. Mind you this is geared towards a STREET CAR. I can understand the lack of need for A/C on a track car.

How many of you guys out there believe in A/C or think it has about as much use as our 20 year old spare tires? I've also included age as a factor into the poll as I believe the younger crowd might have a more cocky "energetic" attitude towards the heat while the older crowd has had time to mellow out over the years.

I'll start. I'm 25 and after 4 years of 105F summers driving my Camaro with no A/C, I've had enough.

 

If a car came with A/C, it needs the A/C to be working. If it came without A/C, it doesn't need to be installed.

 

i dont understand it either, im only 17 and for the past 2 years iv hated driving my car anywhere during the high heat days because i would roast and be misserable. well finally this year i got my AC installed again and it pushs out 20 degree air and will freeze you out.

 

I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around this. I can see what you're saying from an "All that work" standpoint to swap in an A/C system but people do tranny/engine swaps all the time for the luxury of power.

My situation is that my car HAD A/C, however the owner I bought it from took it upon himself to remove everything except the evap (Obvious that is usually left alone) and the compressor, which he even left the belt attached to

The HVAC panel and all the wiring is still present, so all I have to do is gather the pieces and install and vacuum/charge accordingly. The way I figure it, is that I've put 12 grand into my car over the past year building up the rear axe, transmission and some motor mods and now about to come of the bodyshop with a PROFESSIONAL (Not Maaco) resto, and it would be downright ghetto of me at this point to not get the A/C up and running.

Just picked this up off ebay. Gonna grab the rest of the stuff from the yard and have it flushed/leak checked. Yes, I got the aluminum housing compressor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130152689084...84.m1497.l2649

 

I'm glad to see a "Youngin" doing a thirdgen the right way.

One of the big problems in respect to the reason why our cars are seen as r3dneck trash is that people always worry about making them go fast, but pay little attention to making them look and function nice.

On a side note, 20 degree air? Was this during the summer or winter? What did you use to measure the duct temperature? I haven't even seen autofrost go into the 20s.

 

id rather have a good looking car that will get everyones attention than worry about speed right now but i am building a nasty 350 for it for the near future and i plan on keeping AC then too. and yes 20 degree air, that was just a few weeks ago and the temp was around the mid 80s that day. the themometer i have is a lab thermometer thats really accurate and used by alot of placed for food and different stuff, i dont remember the name right off hand. normally if im just putting around town it stays around 32 degrees, ideling its around 35 degrees but if i go over 40mph it drops to 22 degrees. around 60mph im not sure because i was busy driving to take a temp a reading.

 

That's what I'm getting at. duct temps in the 20s are unheard of. do a search and youll find that the infrared thermometers dont accurately measure the duct temp. people always use a probe type thermometer stuck in the vent.

 

BTW you ever check out my build thread? cause mine has been coming along nicely.

 

its not an infrared, its a probe type. and it gets cold, too cold really, not too good when your shivering trying to drive. i think its funny how i can drop 30 degrees from the time i get into my car from sitting outside to driving 5 blocks to my grandmas. will be sitting around 90, then drops to about 60 degrees in that time period

 

You running 134a?

 

I think a car should have a/c especially if it came with it stock. I feel that alot of people don't understand how to properly fix it so they just cut it all out to "make there car faster." I had mine without a/c for awhile and it is a t-top car but I got sick of sitting in traffic in 90+ degree days with the sun beating down on me and just pouring in sweat. So when I put the new motor in I converted over to r134a.

 

I'm kind of skeptical on running 134a. How do you feel it performs?

I've read alot of people saying they weren't satisfied with the cooling 134a offers.

R12/R406a is a much better choice but the risk I'd take running these is if something were to go wrong and the system needed maintenance that is some expensive stuff to just evac and recharge!

 

My TA came with A/C delete factory and I have purchased the brackets, and other assorted plastic/vents used. Also the condenser, evaporator, accumilator, A/C pump, and lines new. In the procees of putting it all in and wiring it up. Then I will take it to a local shop and have it pumped down and charged. I don't mind all that much myself about using flow through A/C (windows down going fast), but the icandy types don't usually take to kindly to riding in a hot car SO.... Not that I don't want the comfort of A/C eather though. lol

 

Depends on the climate where you are I guess; summers get really hot here for months on end.

I'm 45 and cranky - all road cars should have AC. When I was younger and cranky, I still thought the same. When I get old and cranky, probably won't think any different.

Some PO made off with my AC, probably why I'm cranky.

 

nope, R12 I was grandfathered a 30 pound canister so I'm set

 

when i lived in central florida still I wanted a/c in everything,but now that I am back in upstate new york,i dont care most days.I do agree that if its in the car it should work,but I am in the middle of deleteing mine,with the full factory non a/c dash,heater and fresh air vents,that i pulled out of a parts car last year

 

I live in Central Texas, plenty hot you can believe that... Im 27, Im a mechanic by profession (generally dislike AC repair, never pays good enough) Now I have an interesting situation IMO....I have a 1LE so well no A/C from factory....But the previous owner/original owner was told by his wife when he bought the car that he had to get AC put in. So the car has an AC setup on it now. Aftermarket compressor, custom lines, non stock style condensor and so on....It works pretty good so thats nice but I find myself not using it..Ive always liked riding around in my camaros with the windows down not sure why, but i just like the wind and engine sound...(on a side note this is a PITA not having power windows and having to roll down the passengers window)....I have all the original A/C delete parts in a box though as the PO kept anything and everything he took off the car, so my stance is having AC is nice, if my GF wants to ride we have to have A/C. But since its an aftermarket peiced together setup if it starts giving me too many troubles one day I might just go back to the stock no AC setup...Doubtful though cause nothing on an AC system is that complicated....It doesnt hurt having AC doesnt really hurt performance, just turn it off....But it does feel kinda like im cheating having a 1LE with AC, o well...

 

I believe it depends heavily on where you live. I like A/C on a hot day for sure, but I live in San Diego and I bought my vert last year. The only reason I know the A/C doesn't currently work is because I tested it twice. It didn't work either time. Since my car has been an anchor in my driveway (and sometimes garage) for the last 7 months, I've been trying to get it running. Once I accomplish that, I plan to attempt to get the A/C working. If I can't get it operating with minimal effort (and minimal cash), then I plan to delete it. I don't need it or use it because of where I live (and the TA is a drop-top). I feel that if it's there, it should work. If you don't need it or want it, then get it outta there.

EDIT: Woops, I forgot to mention I'm 30.

 

Both our Camaro and the Firebird have A/C and they both work with R134 just fine. And the Firebird is a T-top. I enjoy having the tops off, but when its super hot, I'd rather turn on the A/C than be broiled by the sun The Camaro is down in New Mexico and you don't go without A/C there!

 

Every time I see an otherwise potentially "nice" car with the AC hacked off of it, and then get inside and smell the BO from all the sweaty bodies that have soiled the seats, and see all the road filth that accumulates from driving around 100% of the time with the windows down just like it did back in "the good old days" before AC was commonplace, I want to just HURL. Every time I see a car driving around on a warm rainy day with the windows all fogged up because the defroster can't possibly work right because the AC isn't there to dehumidify the air, I fear for the life of all the OTHER drivers on the road that the one SELFISH LAZY JERK is putting at risk.

EVERY car I own, of ANY age and WHATEVER type INCLUDING my old convertible, has a working AC.

I have never understood the supposed "benefits" of hacking that system off of a street car, in ANY climate. "I live up north and it doesn't get hot here" is irrelevant. The AC does more than just cool the interior. And yes, I used to live in the SD area myself (north SD county) and I kept my AC working at that time too.

Other than that, I have no particular opinion on the matter.

 

Wow, alrighty then. Let me apologize for striking a nerve. I've lived in SD for over 20 years and I've never had a "warm rainy day" where my windows fog up and I have to drive around with them down. As far as the smell and road filth, that is easily prevented by cleaning the inside of the car when the outside gets cleaned.

On a side note, I'm probably going to attempt to get my A/C working properly just because it's the original equipment and I'd like to keep my TA mostly original until the 305 dies. Once it dies, its mod-time. But I'll still probably keep the A/C even then, as long as I get it kicking correctly.

 

Thank you Lord for intelligent third gen owners. I'm glad you guys believe in restoring your cars before any mods are attempted. I have all the parts to get mine to around 400 rwhp but I'm holding off until I replace rusting driveshafts, differential covers, etc.

 

I hear ya. A lot of guys crap on the 305 for not being a 350. Its got enough gusto for me so I'll run the 305 until it's dead, even if it makes it to an amazing 300,000 miles. Even then, if I can revive it with a rebuild and some modifications, I'll do that. I bought it because I like it. It's a DD, not a race car. I don't see any reason not to try to keep it mostly original.

 

Big chevy meet in May in Orlando. Tons of customs. I was struck by how many A/C's were in those polished blower, braided lines, shining engine bays. 30 yrs ago that was the first thing to go but now it seems the norm down here in the way south.

 

Smartest thing I have done to my car was to put the A/C back in it where the PO pulled it out.

Im 28 btw.

 

Don't need a/c up here where we rarely see 90 degree weather. I'm 17.

However, I do have my heater, because these cars are fun in the snow!

 

I pulled out the compressor and accumulator on my 85 when I did the engine/trans swap. it was non functioning when I got the car so I pulled it. I do plan on putting it back so nothing else was removed. But I also have everything to swap over to a serpentine setup so I want to do that and get the proper AC hoses, compressor, and accumulator for that application.

I plan on purchasing all the tools required as I would like to learn about AC and also my 97 blazer and my girlfriends saturn have leaks somewhere and I want to fix it in those as well.

On my 79 the system was completely butchered when I got it so I removed it and installed a AC delete panel on the firewall. But I think a vintage air setup is in that cars future.

Oh and I'm 29.

 

Possibly the first time I have heard anyone use a reference to these cars and fun in the snow in the same sentence

 

i'm 29. years ago when i first started driving i was fine with not having A/C. My GTA was my first car and at first i didn't use the A/c much, but later on i started to use it and then it stopped working so i said to hell with it. Then i bought a jeep wrangler with no A/c from the factory! again i didn't care and i actually preferred it that way (mainly because it was a 4 cylinder and barely went highway speeds...especially when i put 31" mud tires!) AND it was all black. paint black, soft top was black, seats were gray. I mainly bought it for winter transport because they can suck sometimes here in NJ (heater worked great!) but it was terribly hot in summer. Then when i sold the jeep due to a rotted out floor pan, i bought a 1994 toyota celica GT to take over in it's place. This car actually has a great A/C system and i use it a lot! especially this summer with temps getting over 100*. i try not to use it unless i need it because it take up gas but thank god it's there!

 

Well I'm 18 and even though I don't have a/c because a po hacked it off when they did the engine swap, I'd like to have it back someday because it is nice. I did however grow up driving 4cyl's where turning on the a/c meant really killing the power so I sucked it up and dealt with the heat so i could make it around easier only turning it on when i was on the highway, but I really dont see me losing too much power in my T/A with a/c!

 

FYI I'm 25 and I believe the car needs A/C, and that's why I voted for under 25 and believe car needs working a/c. Track cars don't need it. But street cars do. I live in Los Angeles and it gets HOT HERE IN SUMMER yesterday it was 100 degrees with 50% humidity I was sweating like a pig without a/c & today it was a little cooler at 86 degrees but humidity was at 80% so I said F*** this and turned it on.

 

I would set the car up the way you want it. However I would keep all the original A/C parts in case you ever want to sell the car since in most cases without a/c it can be very hard to sell a car.

 

I'm 40. I took the A/C out of my TTOP89formy 350 in 93ish. Car now has about 240,000 miles on it.
I have missed it maybe 3-4 times.
I was very careful when i removed it, did it without busting the system open and I spin the compressor once a month. It is still fully charged with the factory R12.
I have been thinking about putting it back in tho. just for shitzngigs
It helped me remove 200-250lbs off the front of my car which I did race a buttload back then..

 

I plan on getting a '78 firebird with a 454 and no a/c & no power options, just a modern radio, obviously gonna be my weekend drag car

 

I can't believe it weighs 200-250lbs ... The compressor is the heaviest part and it weighs what 35lbs at the most and even the evaporator/condensor and all lines I find hard to believe they weigh much more than 25lbs

 

The replacement compressor I just bought is aluminum and weighs under 20 lbs

 

i got caught in a severe t-storm one day when my a/c was broken needed a compressor had to roll the windows up well i have t=tops so then the sun came out while it was pouring my car got over 100 degrees in seconds i was like NEVER again will I get caught like that

 

well im 23 and i daily drive a truck so i deleted the AC in my gta as well as the radio and alot of other things.... the gta is suppose to mimick a road car and it feels good hearing the powerful engine with the bare essentials.. i get TONS of compliments on how i have the car setup... . the gta is the first car i ever bought and i will never sell it

 

The A/C doesn't weigh 200-250. It helped me acheive the goal of removing that much from the front end of the car.

 

I'm not the only one who thinks that they are fun in the snow.

 

I removed mine and drove the car daily for three years and never missed it. Never had a single issue with defrost? I'm not a sweaty guy and bath regularly so my car never stunk either? I'm also the type to clean my car. IL is really only unbearable for two months out of the year though. These cars are great to drive with the windows down. Not unbearably windy or noisy like some. Saves gas, weighs less, and makes it easier to work on.

 

I think it was a coming of age thing for me.

In high school up north (Indiana and Ohio) I used to just rip out all the AC stuff and chuck it for weight reduction and HP increase (so I thought.)

Some years later, in my mid 20's, I realized that I want that stuff. If the weight increases then I just need to make more HP to overcome it.

Every car I own must have A/C, cruise control, and overdrive. Its just the way things had to be after I woke up a little during life!

 

If you don't want A/C then don't turn it on. If you do want A/C then turn it on. To do this of course you must have it installed or sweat your hiney off. It simply makes sense to have it since it does not weigh much and does not get in the way of anything. Plus the fact that I live in Arkansas and it gets HOTTTTT here.

 

Doesn't weigh much? I took it all off and lost about 40 lbs, not to mention I gained hp because there was less pull on the crankshaft.

 

40 lbs doesnt make a bit of difference in a street car. And that compressor only pulls hp when on. It doesnt turn when off.

 

All accessories pull hp, regardless of them being on or not. The compressor just pulls more when it is on. They aren't exactly zero friction pulleys.

 

Even on a street car, moving the 40-50lb batt to the rear and dropping 40lbs of A/C does make a big diff in the feel of the car.
I do like A/C and I like cars without it to.

 

Totally agree!!!

 

How it is using hp if it's not turning?

 

It's on the belt, it's turning. What I was saying was even if you unplug an alternator or disconnect power steering lines, it's still going to drain hp because it's still running on the belt, even thought the accesory isn't actually running anything.