Congrats - compressor is the first (but easiest) step....

Next you have to remove the left front and rear wheels, wheelwell covers, and rocker panel (you did buy more clips for that, didn't you? ) as well as the trim piece below the rear edge of the hood - below the windshield.

Unbolt the fan unit in-front of the left front wheel well and the lines that arch over the wheel down to the drier that is behind the front left wheel. The drier also has lines that go into a deep, dark hole and reappear under the trim panel that is at the back edge of the hood (below the windshield). This trim panel also has to come off to follow the lines to the evaporator - that is a job for next winter for me so I just cut those off and will remove the fuel tank and dig those last bits out when the snow falls.

Then follow the two other lines along the lower edge of the body (behind the rocker panel) back to the left rear wheelwell. Mine were all rusted solid so I just dremel cut them out. They arch over the left rear wheel alongside the carbon cannister and enter the engine bay high above and just behind the left rear wheel. Once you undo these lines, the ones you cut can be pulled out.

You can buy small plates from Porsche (for non-A/C) cars to cover over where the lines enter below the windshield and engine bay to keep the crap out (I forgot the p/n but can check). I also cut the a/c line brackets off behind the rocker panel and all the body studs used to hold the bits in place.

All told, about an 8 hour job for another 4.3 kg loss of weight (not counting compressor).

Marc

 

I would love to do this but at the same time I feel like it would never get installed again... that worries be because it would be harder to sell the car.. but wait.. should I just vow never to sell this car unless I HAVE TO?

 

thanks for all of the feedback,

-kdf, my sentiments exactly. it's been fun. i'm more of a take it apart'er than a put it back together'er, fortunately i've a good mech. -marc, the explanation is much appreciated. haven't ordered the clips yet, but was wanting to replace the rocker panel weather stripping anyway. -might be time to contact the pelican...

 

the compressor mount on the engine console weighs probably 1 pound once cut off the rest of the console - hardly worth the mess and effort... and every A/C component nicely unbolts from the car - no need to cut lines like that! Those are valuable items to someone!

 

i agree. taking the sawzall to it for the sake of a cleaner looking engine compartment and weight savings of 1lb. is not something i plan to do. if the engine is ever out again i may remove it but for now it stays..

 

Does anyone have a picture of the part/parts that would replace the aircon bracket ones removed. There would have to be some kind of spacer for the engine support to place it in the same spot.

 

I simply cut the a/c portion off of the bracket, and put it back..

 

The engine bay looks a lot neater with the aircon bracket cut down. You can't even see it from this angle:



Here's what the remains of the bracket looks like from the top:



Mine was cut down by the specialists who did my rebuild. I'll see if they have a photo of the bracket before it was put back on the engine.

 

I was thinking more in the way of, which part was in place of the aircon bracket on cars delivered from the factory with no aircon.

 

I believe it was the equivalent of a cut down bracket - there is a very clear casting mark where it would be cut.

Not certain, though.

 

Thanks guys, was sort of hoping for some trick and lightweight unit to replace the aircon bracket in case I ever needed to reinstall.

 

How hard is it to cut this bracket off?
Cheers
Si

 

Not hard but, to remove it, you need to lower the motor and remove:

- Cat and primary mufflers
- Rear engine tin
- Engine bracket mount
- Crank pulley and belts

And once you've gone this far, you may as well:

- Install Rennline bracket brace
- Replace the front crank seal
- Modify the a/c bracket to facilitate access to the chain housing, i.e. grind it down so that it clears the pulley
- Install new belts

I did all this over the Winter while replacing the chain housing gaskets and am very pleased with the results. But it's one of those jobs you really want to do once. So, unless you're ready to do the full monty, you may want to hold off until you've got other jobs to address.

$0.02

 

The "non A/C bracket" looks exactly as the cut off version and cost like 550-600 USD from Porsche here in Sweden so it well worth cutting the one you have. Saw it off at the casting and then sand down the surface with a finer and finer paper and you'll end up with a factory look.

Thomas

 

OH NOOOOOOO. You cut the hoses? Could have been some return $$$ on eBay. I think you cut them to make it "impossible" to turn back.

I've seen the aluminum carrier on eBay, so I don't think you would get much for one of those. I guess you could cut it off, but to make it purdy you would want to remove it and install spacers on the appropriate studs.

Wish I could afford a track dedicated car. Good luck.

Took me about two days to get that bracket off the motor the first time I did a rebuild, and the motor was out of the car! Had to read up on the proper tool for crank pulley removal, learn about the alternate DIY tool (turned from a proper size bolt), locate the bolt and get it shipped in and machined.