Nighthawkf-117

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys,
I'm going to delete my A/C. It doesn't work and I like driving with the windows down anyway. If I remove the pretty much everything up the box on the firewall will I still retain my heat? What about defrost?

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Yes. You'll have to close up the existing box where all the A/C components hook up. The cleanest way would be to either find a non-A/C car and take use it for parts or buy an A/C delete box so that you don't have extra junk sitting in your engine bay.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

You'll also have to get an A/C delete pulley if applicable

Ron U.S.M.C.

There's two reasons I did not use a AC-Delete pulley.
The more I looked at the pulley the less I liked it. For me it looked totally out of place
Then it started to eat my belt.
So I put the compressor back on for what I thought would be temporary fix.
I left it on because at least it looks like it belongs there.
(the engine in the first photo needed cleaning)

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

See how Ron removed stuff? That's what your's should look like, good reference photo, Ron.

Yeah, I personally wouldn't care for the random no-use pulley either, if it works fine just spinning the compressor then cool, i didn't know (I have a V-belt set up).

Ron U.S.M.C.

All I was aiming to do was open up the area in the way of the plugs a little so that's as far as I'm going with the removal.
I found nice caps/plugs for the open holes left by taking it out at my local hardware store.

Nighthawkf-117

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the pictures guys. They help a lot.

When you say I need to close up the box where the A/C lines hook up too does that just mean I need to plug the lines?

Eric-86sc

iTrader: (18)

If you do not want to spend the money for an a/c delete box you could cut off the line connections in the heater box and then cover the slot where the lines came out of with aluminum. I used opened up soda cans and then mounted my coil to the front of the box. It looked ok but was still kind of bulky. Like previously mentioned, an a/c delete box is the best way. They are not really that expensive, there is one in the classifieds for $100 shipped.

Ron U.S.M.C.

Does anyone have a photo of the box installed ?

Ghettobird52

Hey Ron, i was debating on pulling my AC pulley in favor of a delete pulley but after reading your thread im kinda scared!!! How hard was it to remove what you removed? That looks really nice.... freed up alot of space on passenger side !

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Yes, just plug the lines, just like what Ron did.

Though if you go the A/C delete box route you'll have alot more room, here's mine for reference (I have the A/C delete box). It really cleans up the whole area there.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

Ron was missing the back support washer. Which is also a spacer.when ron did his post on his prob I pointed that out...a.c. delete parts work every time with all the parts gm made are used.
I had Lingenfelters do my ac delete. And I have never had a prob....
they got all the parts from gm. The bracket and pully come assembled. there are two black washers one in the front of the pully. And one in back...you must have them in place for it to work....or you will eat belts...

joshc

iTrader: (1)

I deleted the non working ac on my 86 T/A. The compressor and lines were already off the car when I got it. I wanted to clean up the firewall and give my car a cleaner engine bay. I took out the large heater case out that bolts to the firewall under the hood.
I found one in a junkyard off a non ac car. I pulled it off, cleaned it off and installed on my car. Think the junkyard charged like $15. It bolts directly in place of the large ac unit.
Looks like Redleader289's picture.
Just be careful pulling the old one off. Most of the bolts are accessed from out side the car on the firewall, but there are 2 bolts on the bottom that go through the inside, so you have to fold back the carpet on the passenger side floor to take those out.

Nighthawkf-117

iTrader: (1)

One last question. I know I don't want Freon leaking in my garage. How do I know which pipes have Freon in them?

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Any pipes that can be traced back to the compressor

Nighthawkf-117

iTrader: (1)

So when I disconnect these I just have to stand back and wait for the gas to release?

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

No. Opening the high side can be dangerous. Take it somewhere if you don't know what you're doing.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Truth. Freon is wicked stuff.

Ron U.S.M.C.

I took mine to a shop that charged me $20.00 and hooked it up to a fairly impressive machine that took about five minutes to do,
If it takes 5 minutes for the machine then you're in for a surprise if you crack open a line or play around with the system in any way. Just call around and get a decent price and take it in.

Ghettobird52

What kind of shops did you call? Coolant/Radiator shops? You guys got me scared of this Freon crap.

Chevy2035

Just call any shop and ask them if they have an AC recharge machine. They vacuum out the lines with it and puts the r134a or r12 back into containers that are hooked up to it and the machine uses that stuff when charging anyones system, You have a valve on the high and low pressure lines with Caps screwed on, IF you open them and hit the valves with a screwdriver, Hold your breath and if there is more than 2-3 seconds of pressure then you need to take it somewhere, Most of the time they will leak out after a year or two of not being used, But not always

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

If you have any worries about refrigerant, I too would recommend taking it to a shop. Midas, Firestone, etc will all be able to evacuate it for you. It shouldn't cost much for labor, as all they do is hook up two lines and turn on their machine.

Refrigerant is dangerous. If it hits your eye, it freezes your cornea. Causing non-repairable blindness. There is a lot more refrigerant inside the system than you think. Probably something along the lines of 1.5 lbs worth. That's a lot of refrigerant.

Ghettobird52

So are you guys saying to get a shop to vacuum the Freon out and then pull out the lines myself? is that what you did Ron? just want to make sure before i call a shop and sound like an idiot lol. thanks

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

If your AC doesn't work your Prob. already low on Freon. Take a screw driver and press down on the shrader valve slow and see if ya get a HISS outa it. If you do it still has SOME charge. If you dont Then your fine to pull the lines,etc.. ( freon isnt that great for the ozone, or if you breath a TON of it. Its not gonna hurt YOU to take a screw driver and release it. Just dont breath a ton of it in)

If its still under pressure then you do have some AC charge left. Could be a few ounces could be a full charge and something else wrong with the system.

Do you know whats wrong with it?

As for having a shop do it.. DONT let a shop charge you. If you have R12 still in the system They will reuse it. Same with 134a. We charge $22/lb at my shop for an A/C recharge + Labor. I'd never Charge someone who stopped in to just recycle the system because they wanted to remove everything. I'm the one making out on the deal. Even if its only a few Ounces or 2 lbs.

Yes they will take about 5min or so to evacuate your system. The machine used will recycle the freon. Now they have the extra to use on another car.


The cleanest way is to remove it all and put back in a Non-Ac heater box.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

^what he said^

Do the test first, because there's a good chance it'll be empty or very low. Didn't mean to scare you, it's just like anything else when working with chemicals and things that aren't meant to be breathed/drank/eaten/etc...be careful, and you'll be fine.

Ghettobird52

Finally got to do this job this evening. I ended up not having to go to a shop to get my freon evacuated/discharged. I checked pressure at the schrader valve and nothing came out so i dared forward. Rest assured i went in ready. Jeans, long sleeve shirt, mechanics gloves and had my ski mask & snow boarding goggles on lol. I unbolted the bolt behind the pulley and not a single drip/fume came out.

Tread lightly!!!!