Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 14:38:34 -0400
Reply-To: "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@enter.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@enter.net>
Subject: Re: Lets rip out the Air conditioner - 89 vanagon
In-Reply-To: <000401bfddf4$b791af00$46903604@hhnch>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Michael,
I don't supposed you're related to Dr. William Schiesser of Lehigh University?
> I want to rip out my AC.
Woohoo! Been there, done that.
> A. It doesn't work (needs lots of new parts( ~$1000 worth to get it working)
Sounds familiar.
> B. If it did, it would overheat the engine
I got some switches smokin' before I ripped it out.
> C. It takes up so much room
Heavy too. You'll take at least a hundred pounds off your vehicle.
> D. IT's freon based and we all know the state of the ozone layer
No comment...I have my own theory.
> 1.Has anyone done this before? (tips please)
Yup. Recover the refrigerant first, otherwise, letter D above is being
violated. Also, you'll spray oil all over the place (BTDT...I thought mine was
discharged).
I'm sure you'll figure out the rest of the procedure. It's pretty straight-
forward. The overhead rear cabinet is VERY heavy. Make sure it's supported
when you start to take it down or it'll whack you big time. You'll need to
remove the side pillars and pull some of the hoses and relays out from the
driver' side rear pillar.
To take the condenser off the radiator, you'll need to drop the radiator
because of the way the condenser is attached (2 screws and then it swings
back...no way to do it in place that I know of).
I left a few of the other hoses running front to back in place. Too much
hassle, IMHO.
The compressor will require a big hex key. 6mm, I think. The cast bracket is
worth something to those that broke theirs.
> 2.Does anyone want any of the parts? I think the compressor and exchanger
> work fine, its line leaks etc that are the problem
Yeah, you'll get some takers, but not for everything. I still have the
evaporator and expansion valve assembly 'cause nobody wanted those, but I know
as soon as I toss it someone will offer $200 for it. ;-)
> 3. Any cool ideas of what to do with all that extra overhead space? Can I get
> factory looking overhead cabinet anywhere. I'd like to put some speakers and
> maybe a subwoofer up there.
I just put the empty shell back up and put stuff in there. I lined it with
contact paper because that black foamy stuff was all over the place.
Drop the center ducts and now you can put a poptop on, like I did. :-)
The front air distributor can be made into a shelf. I did...see pics on Bev's
web page.
-Karl
Karl & Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA - '87 Weekender "Bev" - 198K Miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw - vanagon@makarov.com
VW Shop List: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/vwshops
PA/NJ/DE/MD area VW bus "group" http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon
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