A/C removal

[BRONCOKID88]

so my a/c hasn't worked since I bought my Bronco...and lately I've been thinking of removing the whole system. How hard is it to take everything off? and is it even worth the bother as far as taking some stress from the engine? how easy is it to get all the coolant out? and once I get it all off is it better to buy the bypass pulley or can I just get the new belt for a bronco without ac i think I saw one on JBG the other day. I know a lot of you guys have taken them off so any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mitch

 

[Justshootme84]

Have a shop drain & catch your refrigerant, don't just release it into the air. The compressor and condenser unbolt easy, but the evaporator at the firewall is a bit more of a challenge. You'll need to cover up the hole in the firewall if you take everything off to gain more room. Look in my 460swap thread on how I fabbed a plate to cover that area. The A/C bypass pulley would be the easiest fix for your serpentine belt setup. JSM84

 

[tiller83]

stop , even if you only use your bronco offroad you'll regret taking it out. if all the parts are there it can be fixed and unless you store it all in your attic you'll never be able to replace it all. the drag of the free floating a/c pulley is nill, the drag of swetting through your clothes and seat and allover everything is much,much worse. even the nascar guys have a/c. i tried to part mine back together but nothing fit rite, i've barely got a heater, and rigged up an old blower to some pvc piping for some airflow and defrost ability. you may have to buy the parts one at a time and then have them all replaced (at the same time) but it's worth the trouble to keep it, if you must, you could splice into the compressor clutch control wires and add an on/off switch to your dash. this would alow you more control over the settings.trust me,keep it. if it's doing nothing, it's doing nothing.

 

[RBuffordTJ]

The coolant is SUPPOSE to be removed by a vac system at a local shop. Mine was dry when I started so no biggie for me. People throw rocks at you if you even HINT at just releasing the gas into the air so I would not encourage telling you to do that. Everything is gone off of mine now except the housing on the firewall, mine is a 84' so the blower motor is up in that housing so I left it for defrosters and heaters in the 2 weeks of winter we have here in FL.

As for heat, I roll down that back glass, put the windows down and go.

Hold on to the stuff if you think you might want it again one day though.

Rick in Orlando

 

[BRONCOKID88]

this is just something I've been thinking about lately, I know I'll never get the a/c fixed, the truck isn't my daily driver it's just my toy. and I've been without the a/c since I bought it 4 years ago and I've never missed it. even in my car with a/c I roll the windows down and leave it off. Well thanks for everyone's advice now I dont know what I'm going to do, so I'm going to think on it for a while. I don't know if I can justify doing something that will get me no gain. unless I just get bored and want to work on something.

thanks again

Mitch

one last thought: if I remove it will it effect my heat or defrost?

 

[RBuffordTJ]

this is just something I've been thinking about lately, I know I'll never get the a/c fixed, the truck isn't my daily driver it's just my toy. and I've been without the a/c since I bought it 4 years ago and I've never missed it. even in my car with a/c I roll the windows down and leave it off. Well thanks for everyone's advice now I dont know what I'm going to do, so I'm going to think on it for a while. I don't know if I can justify doing something that will get me no gain. unless I just get bored and want to work on something.thanks again

Mitch

one last thought: if I remove it will it effect my heat or defrost?

I did mine for a couple reasons, one was I was not using it because the system did not work, the other was to get out of the way so I could see and work on my engine. Same reason the smog garbage came off.

Rick in Orlando

 

[RBuffordTJ]

When you have some time, read this.

Yes, I have read that post before. Thanks for the link

Rick in Orlando