Ok, I have a free week, so I'm getting some work done on my camaro.

1. I'm taking out all the excess A/C equipment in the engine bay, and I see a little "mini" radiator infront of the main radiator, a friend told me that is strictly for the A/C unit. How the heck to I get it out? I live in an appartment, so I can't really make a mess all over the place (drain the radiator to take it out)... is that the only way to get the little one out?

2. While looking at the A/C stuff, I saw a little plastic "plate" underneith my Airfilters, it looks like it is REALLY restricting the air flow to the filters, what the hell is it doing there? it was bolted in with little plastic screws (gay!), so I took it out. The only thing I can think of is to keep water out? I'm in Phoenix Arizona, so I don't have to worry about that. Is this safe to do? I already took it out, but havn't driven it around yet.

3. I'd like to do the "TB water bypass" mod, and I'm wondering does the radiator have to be drained to do this? Again, I live in appartment, and they don't really like stuff like this... (I don't think they liked me wetsanding in the parking lot either...)

Thanks a TON for any info on these items! If I have to drain the radiator for either of these, I guess I can hit up a friends house, or just do it in a supermarket parking lot haha!


Thanks again! - Daniel

 

1. I'm taking out all the excess A/C equipment in the engine bay, and I see a little "mini" radiator infront of the main radiator, a friend told me that is strictly for the A/C unit. How the heck to I get it out? I live in an appartment, so I can't really make a mess all over the place (drain the radiator to take it out)... is that the only way to get the little one out?

u dont have to drain the radiator. just unscrew the 4 screws on the top of te rad, lean it back, and lift up the a/c piece.

2. While looking at the A/C stuff, I saw a little plastic "plate" underneith my Airfilters, it looks like it is REALLY restricting the air flow to the filters, what the hell is it doing there? it was bolted in with little plastic screws (gay!), so I took it out. The only thing I can think of is to keep water out? I'm in Phoenix Arizona, so I don't have to worry about that. Is this safe to do? I already took it out, but havn't driven it around yet.

never had tpi

3. I'd like to do the "TB water bypass" mod, and I'm wondering does the radiator have to be drained to do this? Again, I live in appartment, and they don't really like stuff like this... (I don't think they liked me wetsanding in the parking lot either...)

no, it doesnt have to be draint, but some will leak out, only the water above the lowest point of the disconnect will spill.

Thanks a TON for any info on these items! If I have to drain the radiator for either of these, I guess I can hit up a friends house, or just do it in a supermarket parking lot haha!

your welcome

 

Thanks! I'll see what I can do tomorrow

 

On a side note, I have removed all parts to the A/C-heat in the engine compartment. I switched to a carb setup, and got all new gauges. I just weighed the car and with 3/4 tank of gas, and w/o me, it was at 3240 lbs. That A/C stuff adds up.

 

the plate under the filters is to help force more air into the radiator.

 

so, it it a good idea to take it off? or no?

 

i donno about your plate thing, but if you get a AC delete box, you have ALOT more room to work on the engine... :thumbup:

 

AC delete box? is there more to it than just taking the AC stuff out?

 

kinda....

you can just take it off, but then you still have this big empty box in the way...

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ght=delete+box


theres a how to and some pics.


after ya do that, it will look like it never had AC..... plus it looks nicer IMO, and it gives you ALOT more room under the hood.... thats a bad pic at the front as far as showing you all the space you gain.....


anyhoo, when i did it, i was a cheapazz... i cut my stock box down and took some of my old mans boat fiberglass stuff and made my own ACdelete box.... but you're probly better off buying one....

 

Ok, I got the TB Bypass done, just got a longer hose instead of using the connector. I also got the condenser (the mini radiator) out, and everything is all good now! I drove it to a friends house to pick up some seats (wohoo!!) and the car was AT LEAST 20 degrees cooler on the freeway, on slow roads, and in traffic. on the freeway, I don't even think it was 160 degrees. wow! (phoenix arizona mind you)

Now, I went back to replace some of the hoses that I saw were looking kind of cracked. Later this evening I went for another drive to pick up some food, and I noticed that the fan (electric) clicked on as soon as I cranked the engine... the engine was cold... The fan ran the entire time, but damn if the engine ran cool!! Even sitting in the drive through for a few minutes the temp hardly went up.

Why the heck is the fan running all the time now? The only electrical thing I touched (unpluged) was the MAF sensor... did I accidentaly knock some electrical wire or something?

I dont think having the fan running all the time is particularly bad (am I right?), but I notice that the idle is slightly higher when I'm driving slow (in parking lots and appartment) when the fan normaly wouldn't be running. Thats just wasting gas, right? And I keep thinking I'm running real hot when I hear the fan running.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

Im assuming you have the dual fan setup. i know the secondary fan is run off of the fan switch located between the 6 and 8 plugs on the passenger side head. there is also a weather pack connector and 2 relays right next to the battery that controls both fans, i redid all the wiring for my fans this summer. I'd def check to see if those wires are being grounded anywhere before i did anythign else. if you need the wiring diagram let me know and i'll email it to you

 

Dual fan A/C cars also have an A/C refridgerant temp. sensor on one of the lines from the canister. If you removed the line and disconnected the sensor the secondary fan will run on. I had to cut the sensor out of the line and plug it back in to the harness to get the fan to shut-off.

If you wanted to, you could wire a switch up to it and use it as a way to manually turn the fan on and off.

tj

 

the canister, is that the silver metal object on the passenger side of the firewall?

Yes, that is also gone now. But I through it away, and I guess the plug is in the trash with it

 

if it was just a switch that had to be "on" all the time, you could either jumper the connector, or cut the connector off and connect the two wires to each other...


btw, are you going to swap the AC box for the smalle one? and swap the interior control piece to a non AC one?

 

in need of a heater for my car i cracked the a/c box and all i have is the top half of the ac cover but all i want is the heater i live in waukesha,Wisconsin so it hasnt snowed yet(fingers crossed)but its frosty on my windows and its hard not to breath while your in the car to stop foging up the window.

so what im asking if theres any out the anyone that knows where i can get a heater box for my 1989 firebird formula i would love to get it for a godd price i need heat.

 

my engine bay has a motor..radiator with resevoir...brake booster..and battery

 

ok heres one b4 i cleaned it up..easier to see

 

you can get a generic radiator hose from a auto store that has a 45* bend in one end and is straight the rest of the way..... thats what i used on my old car... went straight from the motor to the radiator... with no bends.

 

sounds good..its about time to replace em anyway...thanks for the info

 

Like MrDude said, just jumper the connector and your fine. Just remember that there is a delay switch on that circuit and if the engine is running with the A/C fan on, it takes 15sec. or so for the fan to shut off once the jumper is installed. If you put ithe jumper in before you start the car it should not come on.

tj

 

what do you mean by put the "Jumper" on? I'm not sure what that is.

And when I start the car and the fan doesn't come on, will the fan come one when the engine gets hot, like normal?

Thanks!

 

If the wire harness for the A/C temp sensor is not connected to the sensor the fan should come on right away.

So in your case if the fan is not coming on, the harness is 1) still connected to the sensor or 2) you already have the two wires in the connector jumped together.

tj

 

by jumper we mean connect the two pins in the connector together with a wire.... letting the power "jump" from one pin to another.....


and yea, the car should behave like normal...

 

right now the fans (both of them) come on as soon as the engine starts, but not untill it starts (when I turn the key till the car has power, the fans dont' come one).


So just connect those to prong things, and the fan should stay off untill the temperature gets to the point that the fan will click on?

If thats all I need to do, then I'm all set. Is that it?

Sorry for being slow that this, I'm just learning all this electric/wire stuff.

 

hm... well, I connected the 2 prongs that I thought was the sensor, but I guess that wasn't it. fan still came on.

What does it look like? did it look like the male end of an electrical outlet cord? (minus the center round prong) and with a rubber "boot" around it?

Well, what ever that was (it was plugged into the silver canister thing before I took that out), I undid the connection, for fear it might be something thats not supposed to be connected

 

There are a few electrical harnesses associated with the A/C system. One is a large connector at the silver Reservoir which is not the one in question, the one we speak of is a smaller connector that is halfway between the silver canister and the battery. If you removed the A/C lines that go between the canister and the condenser you may recall the sensor built into one of the lines. That is the sensor that needs to be jumped and remember about the delay if you jump it when the engine is running.

If you can post a pic I might be able to point it out.

tj

 

hm... I think I know which one your talking about, I'll post a picture just to make sure before I blow something up I'll snag it and post it up in a few minutes

 

I circled the connector I believe your talking about

 

is this is? a close up. I believe this connector went into the metal tube going from the canister (bottom maybe?) to the condenser

 

im not sure about the connector, but from the first pic you posted, i should tell ya somthing..


that bar shaped hole in the AC box is going to have to be covered somehow. right now, if you turned your heat on, it would blow right out that hole... and any exhaust leak or fumes would go right thru that hole into the passenger compartment.

you can unbolt the top half of it, and get some cheap sheetmetal and glue/silicone/epoxy it to the inside of that hole.... kinda cheezy but it will work.. esp if you paint it flat black..

if you wanted, you could even replace the whole top half with a flat piece of sheetmetal.. *shrug*

 

hey, thanks for the tip! I had no idea

anyone know about the sensor?

 

*bump*

does anyone know if this is the sensor? I don't want to blow anything up by just guessing and have it be the wrong one!

 

Yes that is the connector in question.

Just put a jumper on it and you are in business.

tj

 

thanks! I'll do that today!

 

yep, that was it! my fans dont come on when I start the car now!

But you know what? after driving it around (day and night), it hasn't even got hot enough for the fans to click on yet! WOW!

Any of yall who don't have A/C, and still have your condensor infront of the radiator, take it out, you'll be suprized by the temperature drop afterwords! (and a little weight reduction as well, I guess).

 

yeah..you dont realize the airflow your opening up until ya take it out...

 

think thats amazing, put a alum radaitor in.... even with a hot 400SBC, it still stays on the thermostat when moving...