originalmotorhead

1980 911 SC. It's 135k ish miles, not pristine by any means, not a total beater. I'd call it a 'driver'. Heck, I drive it rain or shine.... (just not in the snow)

I've had it for 1.5 years and love driving it. AC has never worked. the climate **** was replaced with a 'on/off' switch by the P.O. and it kicks in the compressor even though the system appears to be totally empty of charge and there are no bubbles in the front site glass. Local P dealer told me DO NOT try and refill without using both High and low gauges cause the evaporator could blow up if overpressurised/overfilled. Belt for the ac was rotting so i just cut it off and continue to drive the car.


Debating the worth of doing one of these:
1. buying ac gauges, a new belt, r134 freon, and trying a refill.
2. converting it all to newer lines, compressor, etc which is very costly,
3. leaving as is,
4. yanking most or all of the ac equip to reduce weight and clutter in the engine compartment.

While having ac would be nice, it's not that big of deal and I am leaning toward at least removing the compressor(big ole York) and the evaporator from the decklid and tying the hoses off in the back.

I have a valve adjust due so yanking the compressor is gonna happen anyway, to a degree. I 'partially' resist gutting stuff due to retaining some value but i am not sold on replacing all the equip at the crazy cost and not really using it much or seeing that much of value returned if i went to sell it.

opinions ?

Tom

Ed Hughes

If you're planning on selling the car in the near future, and it is restorable to a nice standard economically, then maybe just leave it. If you plan on keeping it you can certainly delete or spend the 2-2.5K in parts to make it decent, plus labor if you don't do it yourself. I removed mine as I was facing the same choice, but mine is a Targa.

ivangene

my ac works great and I am glad... however I have seen the AC delete and it makes the motor look much better - I wont use mine much (if ever) and woould not spend the money to make it work if it didnt.... I would pull it

maybe keep the parts for the next guy? I dont know.... to me its not worth much effort to have ac in my car (but I live where it is 40 degrees today and raining - hot here is 90 for 3 days in a row once ever 3rd year)

rusnak

Tom, you've learned an incredible amount in 1.5 years. I think you're considering all the angles. You received good advice also from the dealer. If you can find someone to pull a vacuum for you and check for leaks, I'd probably do that on the cheap as a first step. The problem is that 134a doesn't work so well, and neither does the big ol York.

MUSSBERGER

And you might just throw in that you live in a damn near perfect climate.

robrichtx

I pulled the condensor off the deck lid, taped the ends of the hose to prevent debris from getting in, and removed the belt. I figured I would save the parts based on value alone, but also for the next owner in case I ever decide to sell her.

I have a reverse driving season compared to yours - mine's on the road from November through March

Ed Hughes

Now I do, but when I yanked it, I lived in Dallas. Far from perfect!

originalmotorhead

removing the compressor from the engine and the evaporator from the decklid and just taping over the hose ends was kinda what I was thinking as a first dismantle step. Unless I was able to easily pull the hoses down and out. Would prefer to unbolt and such vs just cutting hoses. Like everyone is saying, keep parts for possible next owner.

Regarding the vacume pull and leak check, I would like to do that and just give it a try with a refil using the 134 cause it's cheap enough and if it worked, i would be ok with tossing in a can or two every year to keep it going for the little bit i would use it. Last year I could have used the ac 2 - 5 times but otherwise I have the windows open and sunroof too. I just redid all three seals on the sunroof and lubed up all the track work too so hopefully that keeps my 60mph ac good for a while...

Tom

Ed Hughes

If they are the stock hoses, that would be on the list of items to replace if someone wants to make it good a/c system.

rusnak

Exactly. You know your stuff.

Change the little viton seals, and you're probably going to be ok. If the compressor were locked up, you might go through a few receiver dryers and expansion valves unless you did a flush. You might need to change the receiver dryer anyway depending on the amount of leaking. If you do, then consider a Pro Cooler.

Alpine 88

From what I understand, the seals dry out from the non-use, so that when you do turn on the compressor, the thing spins out all the compressor oil, rendering the compressor useless. So if you're going to try to use it you need to replace the seals and the compressor oil. Maybe more work than it's worth, because the one time I had all that done, ten years ago, it was real expensive, probably about $600 including a fill with r12, and the AC didn't work all that well anyway. And that's with the large vents in my later Carrera--you've got those teeny tiny ones in your SC. And from what I've heard, the r134 won't work right in a system designed for r12 either. I'd suggest it's not worth the trouble. Either leave it there, or remove what's easy to remove and hold onto it for a future buyer.

rusnak

The AC compressor can be re-built at home. I have the gauge set and 2 stage evac pump, so it's a home project for me to evac and re-charge too.

http://forums.acuralegend.org/rebuil...122.html?t=122

KBell

Pull the A/C and drive it!

psychoideas

I pulled mine out completely and threw it in the bin.

originalmotorhead

yanked the compressor and rear evaporator/radiator yesterday. I like the fact that now i can get to right side of motor easly.

when i cracked the ac line, I didn't even get a hiss which means that sucker was bone dry.

Car seems to run a tad cooler on freeway now that the radiator thingy is not in there.

Tom