A/C Removal

[ClodKing]

I don't know exactly what it's called, so I'll try and describe it.

The part that the air goes through to get cold, and is then pumped into the cab.

Is that part near the heater core, or is it somewhere else?

When I pulled the A/C crap out of my burb, the heater core, and A/C unit were one peice. So when I idscarded all of that I had to go with an after market heater box.

I am going to pull the compressor tonight I think. And I want to remove as much as A/c associated parts as possbile.

My A/C doesn't work, and I don't think it's worth the 1000-2000 dollars it would take to get it to work properly. Plus I've never owned a vehicle with A/C (or A/C that works...), So I won't be missing much.


Plus I am trying to shed as much un-needed wieght as possible. I'd gut the heater, and controls, but I need heat to defrost the windsheild in the winter time.... I like weight savings alot, but I don't want to comprise my vision either...

[ClodKing]

Wow this place is dead...

So I started removing A/C parts

I removed the compressor, three lines (one to the coolant rad thing, one from the coolant rad thing to the firewall, one from the firewall to the compressor), and some sort of filter, or whatever it is...

As you can see I am a master MVAC maintence guru, who has no need for propper terms, or names.

This is a terribly easy mod so far. What i would like to know is if the front puller fan only comes on when the A/C is on or not.... If so, I could potentially lose another 10-15 pounds off the nose of the car.

But I think it may come on after the car has stopped running, and is still hot... I sure as hell hope not though.

The puller fan is connected to that mini rad that sits in front the big rad... and I want the mini rad to be gone because it is only impeding air flow the bigger main rad, and it's dead weight now.

If anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated

[mkodama]

Wow this place is dead...

So I started removing A/C parts

I removed the compressor, three lines (one to the coolant rad thing, one from the coolant rad thing to the firewall, one from the firewall to the compressor), and some sort of filter, or whatever it is...

As you can see I am a master MVAC maintence guru, who has no need for propper terms, or names.

This is a terribly easy mod so far. What i would like to know is if the front puller fan only comes on when the A/C is on or not.... If so, I could potentially lose another 10-15 pounds off the nose of the car.

But I think it may come on after the car has stopped running, and is still hot... I sure as hell hope not though.

The puller fan is connected to that mini rad that sits in front the big rad... and I want the mini rad to be gone because it is only impeding air flow the bigger main rad, and it's dead weight now.

If anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated

I want to try taking out the AC system in my 318is for fun whenever I get around to it.  Weather is about 70 degrees F just about all year round in Berkeley CA, haha.  So keep up the info, like any problems or difficulties and the steps taken.

About the secondary fans, you are correct in that turn on for the AC but they also turn on when the coolant temperature exceeds a certain limit.  They usually come into play on hot days, when you are in stop and go traffic and not much air is moving through the radiators.  They also come into play a lot more if you have a cooling system that isn't fully functional.

If your cooling system is in good conditions, and you don't drive often in stop and go traffic in 90F+ weather, you could probably take the secondary fans out.  Along the with the AC radiator, they obstruct airflow to the engine radiator a small amount, so by removing both, you actually gain a little efficiency when the car is moving.

I know that when I had my E46 330i, I drove the car for a week or two without any fans and it never overheated.  Then again, this was in 60F weather.

Good luck!

[ClodKing]

I actually finished removing the a/c parts from the engine bay.

I kept the fan by cutting al the mounts off of the a/c rad thing, and bolting "L" brackets to those mounting brackets. Then I use large washers on both sides bolted the whole assembly to the main rad.

Does it work, yes.

Does it improve air flow to the main rad, yes.

Is it ghetto, most deffinately.

I figure I'd try this out, and see how long it will hold up. My rad is old, and some fins are missing/destroyed, so I figured I'd buy a new rad soon anyways, and some electric fans to compliment it aswell (get rid of that clutch fan).

I'll post up whether or not the rad fails on me. And I'll post pictures when I can get my hands on my brothers camera again.

In total I shaved a bunch weight from the car, and it cost me under 5 bucks for the hardware. Plus there is no more drag of the a/c compressor on the engine....