ONE:

See those hoses clamped to the back of the compressor? What happens if you unbolt that? Is it going to spray AC charge and burn my face off or what? I never use the AC in this car, as far as I know it doesn't even work and I don't even know why (don't care). Thinking of putting in a delete pulley, and also want to clean up/de-gunk the bracket and everything that's behind it on the front of the block. Also, will that Schrader valve looking thing on the AC line release the pressure if there is a charge in the line?

TWO: what do you suggest I use to clean up the brackets to make them look new? They are darker grey than they would be new, even if they are cleaned. Is there any polish or cleaner available? I have Mothers metal polish and the green stuff in the garage.

 

That's a re-man compressor and the system has been updated to 134A.
Just leave it in there, drive the car and enjoy it.
Signed,
Been there, done that, not impressed..

 

I don't know what that means? Upgrade to 134 amps? I don't care if it's a reman, but what about it tells you that? I don't think it works at all, and I'd like to have the extra room in the engine bay. I'm not doing it for more HP. Second, this doesn't answer either of my questions. If I'm going to take the bracket/compressor off to clean it (which it needs, esp around the sides and bottom where it connects to the block) then I need to know if and how to depressurize the system. I'd also like to know if there is any cleaning product that can brighten the bracket components after I clean them. So basically I've just repeated my OP here......

 

134A is the number of the refrigerant (Freon). It's the newer environment safe stuff. The factory refrigerant was R12.

You can remove the brackets with out removing the AC lines.. Just unbolt the compressor and tie it up and remove the brackets.

If you just want to remove the compressor... It's against fed. law to vent Freon into the air, but if a long wrench just happens to fit on the line and loosens it alittle all of the Freon will come out with a hissing sound.

Just don't inhale the stuff or let it blow on your hand as it can freeze your fingers.

As far as making alum. parts look brighter/better I use a product called white lighting alum. brighter. It's an acid-based cleaner for unpolished, raw alum

 

Such a clean engine compartment. It's a shame you want to start hacking it.

 

If you ever got in a bind and had to sell the car, having all the AC equipment on and intact even if it doesn't work would be more appealing to buyer's over it being hacked off.

If you remove the brackets for cleaning, mag wheel cleaner works pretty well.....

 

Good thoughts all. Some guys say they don't like the look of the delete pulley, and the compressor looks better. This had crossed my mind too, but I hadn't decided yet. But if I can get the compressor out of the bracket and support it somehow so I can clean the bracket, that might be my action. Every time I think about taking something off the car, it's like it "talks" to me and says "why are you taking off my (thus and such)? I've had that for 23 years!" I do tend to lean toward keeping things original, so if I can get the bracket off and clean up while keeping things in tact..... But it's not just the bracket. The front of the block has some gunk on it that I want to clean off also, so the bracket needs to come off, even if temporarily. Thx for all the tips. I'll probably find a way to support the comp while pulling the bracket off. I'm very creative! Don't worry Paulo!

 

Where do you get that cleaner? Would Autozone have it? I have Mothers polish, but I'm not sure it's strong enough for what I'm trying to do.

 

R12 was fine until the patent ran out on it.
Yes, you don't have to remove the compressor from the lines to remove the bracket.
Just unhook the 2 electrical connections and remove the 2 long bolts and 1 short bolt, tilt compressor out of the way.

Buy a factory service manual and read it.

Please don't hack this car up. If you feel you need to hack a car up buy something different and sell this to someone who will take care of it.

 

Already have a factory manual for it, but sometimes I like to get real life feedback from TGO. You get stuff here they don't put in the book. The last thing I'm going to do is hack this car up. It's one of 200 ttop/350's made in 92, my general policy is to keep it as original as possible because if it's rarity. I hadn't decided on the delete pulley, but still needed to know what would happen if I disconnected the lines, even if only for a few minutes.

 

I agree on keeping it stock, if you do happen to open the lines make sure it hasn't been running for a while and try to stay on what they call the low side vs. the high pressure side. I think that's what you were referring to in the original post. To do it right I would get the entire AC delete system especially since the smaller compressor doesn't take up much space anyway. If you call around some shops may remove it at a nominal cost since there is the possibility of them reusing the freon.

As far as the brackets go, they are aluminium and should grind/polish up really well. That said, polished aluminium needs to be freshened up every once in a while so that may not be your best option. What I would do is smooth out the metal, and then look into low temperature powder coating in greyish aluminium or maybe black. These brackets do tend to crack so check for that (and the cracking is also the reason for low temp powder coating). It's tempting to try some unique color but along with removing the compressor there is a high risk of it looking like any other trailer park special. I personally would be more interested in preparing them for easy cleaning than drawing attention to them.

FWIW, I forget if it was an allen or torx bolt but on that I would pick up a high quality socket, make sure the bolt is clean, and tap it in with a hammer so it's well seated. I had the fortune of having one break off inside of the bolt.

 

Yeah, I agree. Not gonna go with tiger stripes. I used to have an 85 Firebird base with a 305, and the PO had pulled the vents and various interior panels and highlighted them with that fluorescent splatter paint that was popular in the late 80's-early 90's. I'd be content with getting them cleaned up good and brightened just a little. Can't afford anything extra like powder coating just now. Engine or caliper paint has crossed my mind, but even that can flake off after a while.

 

Having an updated AC system is a good selling point on an older car, I would keep it on there. That's not cheep to update.

 

Very true. When I bought this car, I knew very little about it. As I've worked on different parts of it, I've learned as I go. I've not messed with the AC system, so I don't know much about it either. I didn't even know it had been upgraded! It may just need to be charged, I really don't know. I never use it, and have never given it much thought until now. I'm content to leave it in there as long as I can get the brackets and front of the block cleaned up like I want.

 

I painted the serp brackets black on my GMC (avatar) over 5 years ago and they still look fine today, I'll be sand blasting and painting the serp brackets for my bird tomorrow. I'm using Dupli-color 500* #DE1650 "Cast Coat Aluminum" with Ceramic.....

 

You can take the A/C compressor off without disconnecting the line. Get some straps or bungee cords and hook it to the holes in the fender rails. I do it all the time when I pull my engine out. This way I can save the freon.

 

Really? Thx, good paint tip....

 

Also an excellent tip about the bungee cords, thx again....

 

I found it at a local mom and pop type auto parts store. You can also order it on line. I have never seen anything like it at any of the big chain part stores like autozone. Great to keep a gallon on hand at all time. It works fast and does not take much. I use it on alum wheels, brackets, intakes, etc.

Dupli color cast coat engine paint tip is a good one. It works great to re freshen the look of cast alum too. I use it on alum intakes that have been oil and fuel stained

 

Here's a little something that I believe pertains to this thread.
I took my car down to a shop that evacuated the a/c system for $20.00.
Then I removed what I could and plugged the holes of the remaining lines.
Any way I hated the way that bypass pulley looked. Maybe if I painted the bracket black but the hole thing screamed "cheep junk" and that's what it is. Out of the box it even started to eat my belt. You can see it in the first photos.
I ended putting the compressor back on as the pulley. I can get to the plugs easy enough now, but how bad does it look ? The compressor with out the piping that is. The first photos are embarrassingly nasty but that has been fixed.


Here's a few photos.
The last photo is how it looks to day =

 

Ron, that's a point well taken. I remember seeing you or someone else saying they didn't like the look of the delete pulley. At the time of my OP, I didn't realize my system had been upgraded with a reman and etc. That being the case, I'm more likely to leave it in tact and investigate why it isn't working. Most posters are advising me to do that, and I think it's good advice. So I think I'll try to support it with something while I take the bracket off to clean it. Thx for posting those pics, that's good information. Some guys gripe that I need to just read my shop manual for stuff like this, but the shop manual doesn't post pictures and give feedback like there has been in this thread. That's why I'm on this site!

 

The reason i said to read the shop manual is so you can see how it is bolted together and maybe you could figure out how to remove things without opening up the AC system.

 

Yeah, I get that, and you've helped me on here before--but you telling me not to hack the car up, or that I might need to sell it to someone who'd take care of it was off base a little. I've done nothing but put work and money into this car for a year and a half, no one cares about it more than me. It's the internet though, tough to gauge a posters intent when they say something. Not a big deal over all. There's one poster in particular I've run into a few times (not you) that talks to me like I'm a teenage girl. I don't think he means anything, but I've called him on it a few times just the same. Thx at least for caring what happens to thirdgens. Im with you on that one. There was a guy on one of my FB thirdgen pages that posted a video of himself beating a 92 Formula with a sledge hammer because he was tired of messing with it, my reaction was not good.

 

TheExaminer,
Hope you don't mind but I'm as picky about how my car looks and will look so I hope you don't mind me asking a question.
Here's what I was considering. The piping and pieces that I have removed are practically in one continuous piece. It can be put in and or taken out in about 5 minutes. If just having the compressor in there looks really tacky I can simply put it back together and then remove it for plug changes. What do you think ?
Here's a up dated photo .

 

Well, I'm kind of a novice myself, but it seems to me anything that came apart could be bolted back on! You've still got the AC box, so if the parts are there, I say go for it.

 

I agree.
Nice, I love putting things back that's only purpose is to fill a hole.

 

I've got the old V-belt set up on mine, and I'm debating whether I want to keep the A/C when I install my rebuilt engine (which will be soon, hopefully). The A/C has never really worked well in this car. I've got a leak somewhere b/c I have to recharge it every summer. I'm wondering how it would look without the compressor with a V-belt set up. Also, you can buy a blower box cover that's made for an A/C delete. You get rid of the annoying evaporator core and accumulator on the firewall, and it gives you more room on the pass side of the engine compartment. One route I'm thinking of taking.

 

Even if mine had worked I still would not use it.
The only time my windows are up while I'm driving is when its raining.
Its always been that way. Even in AZ with temps over 100*.Heck, my 1974 Blazers top was off all the time.

 

Agree. I almost never use the AC in any of my cars.

 

If u have it, its best to use it once n awhile to keep the seals lubed w oil.

 

Well, if your with your wife or gf you have to use it, she doesn't want her makeup to run or hair to get blown around in the wind. LOL