A/C Delete on a Cabriolet - Remove AC compressor

[dankehoe1]

Just chiming in; I did this in about an hour on my 89 Golf GL 8v. Easy as falling off a roof and definitely gave a HP boost. Now, after reading some other posters post, Ima go grab a strut bar.

[90Kabby]

what did you use to plug the radiator, where the compressor line connects? i think i saw the question on the thread but didn't see the answer. and did you remove the ugly ball thingy hanging on the hood? how about the solid metal line that goes thu the firewall on the right in your picture? stay or go?

cant wait to do this project, just want to make sure i got it all in my head before i rip into it.

thanks for all the info everyone! fantastic write up!!

[briano1234]

what did you use to plug the radiator, where the compressor line connects? i think i saw the question on the thread but didn't see the answer. and did you remove the ugly ball thingy hanging on the hood? how about the solid metal line that goes thu the firewall on the right in your picture? stay or go?

cant wait to do this project, just want to make sure i got it all in my head before i rip into it.

thanks for all the info everyone! fantastic write up!!

The compressor doesn't connect to the Radiator...... Two Separate Systems.

The compressor connects to the condenser, and that you can loosen and move the radiator to the rear of the car, and disconnect the condenser and remove it.

There are 2 hoses on the condenser, one at the top passenger side and one at the bottom, and a 19mm and a 17mm are the sizes it tales to disconnect the hoses.

[iamdagerman]

I took all the pulley ect off a fox

[PaavWagen]

Just got ride of this useless commodity and I must say, you do notice an increase in power... nice thread, props to you man!

[Loccusstgti]

After doing this did anyone have to adjust the idle? I noticed mine is a bit higher now.

[90Kabby]

did this delete a week or so ago... much more responsive!

thanks briano for the help, you the shiz nit

[PaavWagen]

Just started this roughly an hour ago (2AM) and got all the way to the last bolt on the removal portion (the bolt on the inside of the belt cover) to find it STRIPPED AS A M****R F****R! Definitely not going to get that out until the morning. But hey, great right up man, you got this down to a T. Haven't run into a single snag except that damned bolt.

[90Kabby]

Just started this roughly an hour ago (2AM) and got all the way to the last bolt on the removal portion (the bolt on the inside of the belt cover) to find it STRIPPED AS A M****R F****R! Definitely not going to get that out until the morning. But hey, great right up man, you got this down to a T. Haven't run into a single snag except that damned bolt.

are you speaking of the 6mm bolt? i found mine to be a little stripped as well before i broke down and smashed things i tried to tap my 6mm socket into the bolt head...it sank in and i was able to get it out. i then used the long 6mm bolt from the a/c compressor to replace it.

[czastrow]

heres a noob question..... where are the tensioners so I can put the belts back on??? I have the alternator in its new home but am struggling putting the belt on... other than that, I think all I have to do now is screw a few things in... is there another bolt that holds it in place or is it just the one up top where it now sits??? and how do I get the pully off to put the washer in?

[DanGreco]

Just started this roughly an hour ago (2AM) and got all the way to the last bolt on the removal portion (the bolt on the inside of the belt cover) to find it STRIPPED AS A M****R F****R! Definitely not going to get that out until the morning. But hey, great right up man, you got this down to a T. Haven't run into a single snag except that damned bolt.

I had to cut the bolt in half with a dremel and little at a time, then I got a channel lock and turned as hard as I could and it broke free. It took me 2 days of trying different ways but I finally got it. Good luck

[Romeo Chi]

Anybody that is doing the delete on their AC, if you want to get rid of your hose that goes by the strut tower (lo side hose I believe) send me a PM. I would be happy to take it off your hands.

I need to get the AC running for the hot Florida weather.

[mk3junk]

big thumbs up for this. my ac stopped working before i bought the car. Doing this tomorrow.

anyone know an estimated power increase that is gives?

[G-Wiz]

I have an alternator for the non ac version with the extended pulley already installed. Will I still need to shim the pulley or did you just have to do that to use the existing pulley?

[briano1234]

You probably won't need to shim it, but you really won't know until it is mounted and running...

[jgold723]

Ya know I have been looking at this mod for a while and I have to ask this.

The alignment of the Alt pulley is off, and I think that you can get it closer to running true with a couple of additional washers.

The passenger side of the alternator mount is actually a bushing that Centers the alternator to the mount. As you tighten the bolt this moves that bushing into the alternator and forces the alternator to the rear of the mount.

Now this bushing causes the Alternator to Square itself to the frame so that is can run true but it isn't a hard connection it moves, so why not allow the alternator to not move back?

my thunking has come up with pushing that bushing all the way flush to the inside of the mount.

On the back side (drivers side) of the Alternator mount Glue about 2 good washers in place. May use more depends on the amount of gap you get. What will happen is that when you place the alternator in position and stab the bolt, the alternator can't move to the back of the bracket by the pressing of that bushing running home. The Alternator will still center, but can't move back. Thereby effectively moving the pulley more to the passenger side.

How do you move that bushing? I'm trying this mod and I'm finding that slot just a bit too snug to get the alternator back in. I tried tapping it, but it didn't move.

[briano1234]

That is a pressed Bushing., to move it back to release the alternator, you have to smack the back side of the Alternator at the pivot point.

As you can see there is a good 1/4 inch or so you can gain by shimming the back side of the alternator and only allowing the bushing to come out a wee bit.



Once the Alternator is out of the bracket, spray the bushing with PB-Blaster.
Rig up a press, that is use a bolt and a couple of washers with a nut to push the bushing all the way in to the bracket.

[jgold723]

Thank you very much for posting this! I'm just starting out on my Cabby adventure, and this was a great way to break in.

I did have two issues that I wonder if anyone else has encountered and/or dealt with:

1) I discovered that I could not get the timing belt cover on after I had assembled and adjusted the alternator -- the belt was in the way. So I moved the alternator out of the way, put the timing belt cover back on and then installed/adjusted the alternator. But, because the timing belt cover is back on, I can't tighten the 6mm hex bolt that holds the assembly to the engine bracket. The 13mm nut seems to hold it securely and I've taken it for a short drive, but I'm curious if others have this issue;

2) I also found that the geometry caused by the new mounting point for the alternator causes my alternator fan to scrape very slightly against the adjusting bracket. Makes a little bit of noise, but doesn't seem to cause any other harm. I suspect this will take care of itself in time, as the fan blades wear down (or carve a little groove in the arm). Can I get a fan with a slightly smaller radius?

Otherwise, I'm happy to report that the car does feel like it's got more zip. Now I just need to figure out how to remove in the condenser in the front.

[jgold723]

Thanks Briano! I like the press idea -- I was pondering how to make that work. In the end the PB blaster and some gentle tapping gave me enough clearance to get the alt back in. Next time I'll try the press idea.

[hyperlightboards48]

I got a couple of questions

Can or should i remove the vacuum reservior now that i have removed my AC?
If so do i just cap off the vac line at my finger or at the green arrow?


Or am i better off just leaving the vacuum stuff intact

Thanks
Tanner

[CajunSpike]

Even with the a/c removed, if you kill that vacuum, the vents for heating probably won't work properly..if they do work at all anyway.

[hyperlightboards48]

Alright good to know. The ball thing is staying... I spent a decent amount of time cleaning it anyways

Thanks man!

[czastrow]

is the process the same for my 1.7? It's a bit different from my 92

[YJSAABMAN]

is the process the same for my 1.7? It's a bit different from my 92

Yup, IIRC it is. It's been about 5 years since I did my '82, and the 1.7L has been out of the car for over 3, now.

[hyperlightboards48]

Did i get everything?

[YJSAABMAN]

Did i get everything?

Except what's inside the heater box!

[B5Speedo]

The center vents in my car never have air coming through them. Will the A/C delecte fix this problem or is there something else I should be looking at?

[Dragonwing]

You should be looking for one or more vacuum leaks in the system. Buy some "smoke in a can" at a heating/air conditioning supply house, and its use will make all the leaks quite apparent.

DW

[kamzcab86]

The center vents in my car never have air coming through them. Will the A/C delecte fix this problem or is there something else I should be looking at?

A/C delete will not fix the issue: http://www.cabby-info.com/hvac.htm#No_Air

[YJSAABMAN]

A/C delete will not fix the issue: http://www.cabby-info.com/hvac.htm#No_Air

Here's the internal heater box mod to finish off the conversion and get heat from all the dash vents: http://www.cabby-info.com/Files/Addi...oSideVents.pdf

[turboquattro]

I'd like to do the opposite as y'all are doing in this thread, and ADD air conditioning to my non-A/C '81 Caddy diesel. I'm in AZ and I'd rather have air conditioning.

If you have any parts I can use for that from your A/C delete, please PM me.

[rabbitnothopper]

I'd like to do the opposite as y'all are doing in this thread, and ADD air conditioning to my non-A/C '81 Caddy diesel. I'm in AZ and I'd rather have air conditioning.

If you have any parts I can use for that from your A/C delete, please PM me.

...lol...

where was the "i wanna add ac" fad when i had a few parts to sell....le sigh



hey great write up on your removal, thanks for your efforts in the technical DIY steps


TRUTH the vacuum hose to the a/c blower only controls the valves for defrost, recirculation, and center vent
you dont technically need any of them as the default position is to blow air up through the defrost vents

[briano1234]

TRUTH the vacuum hose to the a/c blower only controls the valves for defrost, recirculation, and center vent you dont technically need any of them as the default position is to blow air up through the defrost vents[/b]

Well are you forgetting the side vents, as if you have the defrosters on cold a/c will blow out those too.

[Spokane Pepe]

I have a complete AC unit ill sell. I have pulled out all the AC parts and about to do this mod so my loss is your gain.

[YJSAABMAN]

I'd like to do the opposite as y'all are doing in this thread, and ADD air conditioning to my non-A/C '81 Caddy diesel. I'm in AZ and I'd rather have air conditioning.

If you have any parts I can use for that from your A/C delete, please PM me.

Wow, I'm not sure how different any of the brackets may be for the diesel engine. I know the compressors changed along the years, though. Still have the correct mini York compressor from my '82. Clutch engages and the compressor turns. LMK.