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Air Conditioner - Don't want it anymore.

4992 Views 45 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  tommy83
Hi all. Since I inherited my 83 Bronco about 3 years ago, the AC has never worked, and frankly I have rarely missed it. Don't know exactly what's wrong, but I suspect that Grampa had problems with keeping coolant in it. I am not interested in investing anything into it. My questions are:

1. Is the AC system worth removing to gain some space and de-clutter, or is it more work than it's worth?
2. What might I stand to lose, (other than the obvious AC potential). What do I need to do to keep my defrost working right, for example?
3. Can I leave the black unit on the passenger side alone and plug the holes that the hoses go into, or must I remove that too?
4. I doubt there is much if any coolant in there, but I don't want to harm the environment or myself in discharging it improperly. How much might a shop charge to take it off my hands?

I can do all the wrenching easily enough. Looking for your opinions in making a decision. It's not really hurting anything... but in a way if it's not doing anything I'd like to get it outta there.

Thanks in advance,
Tom
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Have a shop evacuate it for you. Then tear all that stuff out. As long as you have heater core and blower motor at the firewall your defrost will work and you'll have heat :)
You will blow hot air up at the window on defrost mode, but it won't work totally as intended since the defrost mode uses the AC to pull moisture out of the air. I usually get a good window defrost gel to put on the windows in winter to help with fogging.
You will blow hot air up at the window on defrost mode, but it won't work totally as intended since the defrost mode uses the AC to pull moisture out of the air. I usually get a good window defrost gel to put on the windows in winter to help with fogging.
X2 The defrost mode will still work, but it will not work as well without the compressor to lower the humidity as indicated in the previous post. It can be very expensive to get an A/C system working again, choose wisely.
if the AC is dead and the compressor still works, they are great to turn into a onboard air compressor. look in the tech write ups on how to's
Shadowfax, What is a window defrost gel ? I have never heard of this-
Just unplug the electrical plug on the compressor and call it a day. All it will be then is essentially an expensive idler pulley. Why go through the trouble removing the entire system, new drive belt etc?

EDIT: You probably have a separate belt JUST for the AC. Easier to remove the belt and electrical plug, THEN call it a day!
:stupid
If it's low on freon the the compressor won't turn on anyway. So no need to even unplug it.
Another vote for turning it into a OBA sysyem. Mine works outstanding!
Well, it wasn't low on coolant. It was *bone dry* with absolutely no pressure. Since I'm replacing the tranny cooler (it blew last week) and installing a remote filter, I decided to rip it all out today. The condenser was where the old tranny cooler was mounted, and I wanted to just get rid of it. It was easy to take it all out - just a little time consuming. Since I had no idea where the leak was and had no interest in reviving it... I figured I'd just get it outta there.

I am very interested in turning the compressor into an onboard air compressor! I did a little search and came up empty so far. If any of you who have done it can point me to a link / thread off the top of your head, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm thinking the compressor may need a rebuild... given its age and the fact that there was a leak somewhere. So I yanked it too - it's on my bench. The electrical also had some problems - (melted / spliced wires at some point in the past) so that will need re-done too.

THanks for your replies. I haven't truly done my search time in earnest on the air compressor thing, so I'll keep lookin on my own. :thumbup
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I turned mine into OBA summer before last. Works great. Make sure you get a big tank, though.
Another vote for OBA.

Think some people have gotten them done for as little as 100 bucks...Also depends on whether or not you want a air tank as well, and how much plumbing you do...

KC
Well, it wasn't low on coolant. It was *bone dry* with absolutely no pressure. Since I'm replacing the tranny cooler (it blew last week) and installing a remote filter, I decided to rip it all out today. The condenser was where the old tranny cooler was mounted, and I wanted to just get rid of it. It was easy to take it all out - just a little time consuming. Since I had no idea where the leak was and had no interest in reviving it... I figured I'd just get it outta there.

I am very interested in turning the compressor into an onboard air compressor! I did a little search and came up empty so far. If any of you who have done it can point me to a link / thread off the top of your head, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm thinking the compressor may need a rebuild... given its age and the fact that there was a leak somewhere. So I yanked it too - it's on my bench. The electrical also had some problems - (melted / spliced wires at some point in the past) so that will need re-done too.

THanks for your replies. I haven't truly done my search time in earnest on the air compressor thing, so I'll keep lookin on my own. :thumbup

http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40130&highlight=onboard+air
I'll try and get a pic of mine in a day or two. I add a few drops of air tool oil every now and then instead of using an oilier. The freon has a lubricant in it which is, of course gone when you do the conversion.

This should help.....

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Wow - thanks for the responses, and the diagram! Really appreciate it. Pictures help!
I'll try and get a pic of mine in a day or two. I add a few drops of air tool oil every now and then instead of using an oilier. The freon has a lubricant in it which is, of course gone when you do the conversion.

This should help.....

Nice diagram Kenny.:thumbup
Yeah, ain't that purty? :toothless I've been meaning to save it to my Supermotors. I guess now would be a good time.
2
2 More...... I like the first one the best.



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Left and Right nerf tanks? Only in a jeeper.:doh0715:
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