AC Delete

[Barbados]

Well guys,

After taking a closer look and giving it a second thought I will remove the entire AC system from my Landy for the following reasons:

1. Though the components all look fine, compressor not seized, chiller is in good condition, all well maintained but the fan does not work and compressor is out of gas.

2. There is a small patch of rust below it on the bulkhead (maybe from condensation) which I must fix, AC unit has to be taken out anyways to fix rust.

3) Weight saving.

4) Better access to turbo, exhaust manifold and other parts of the engine on that side.

5) I can replace the compressor with another alternator to charge a second battery which I will put under the drivers seat. This can power up my 2 HAM radios, sound system with sub, alarm and other accessories.

6) By not using AC, I am saving on fuel which is like liquid gold here.

7) By removing the condensor and chiller, I have better air flow to the radiator and have the option of installing a slightly bigger and more efficient intercooler

8) I can add a thermo controlled electric extraction fan in front of the rad.

9) The island does not get extensively hot for long periods, I am used to the heat too so no need for AC.

10) If its too hot, this island is only 30Km long by 23Km wide and I am always close to the ocean to take a cood down dip )

11) I can sell the entire AC package and buy some other stuff for the Landy.

Dont see any difficulties in removing it so far, but have you any tips or tricks?

Cheeers.

 

[trax]

lots of cups of tea and biccies and pics

 

[Pricilla]

...over here there are some de-gassing regulations that have to be complied with if it's a certain type of gas...can't remember the specifics...

apart from that I'm sure it's just a question of dismantling. Probably worth keeping the ends of the pipes etc sealed up so the seals don't dry up in the compressor...must be worth something to someone on a hot island

...some people have used the compressor to provide on board air as they have quite a high cfm

 

[Barbados]

lots of cups of tea and biccies and pics

Lots of elbow grease and I will have two grease monkeys with me LOL.

I have had my many days of hard wrenching spanners since I was 13 working on cars with my dad, now its time to teach others the hard way too ;o)

Will take pics for sure.

 

[Barbados]

...over here there are some de-gassing regulations that have to be complied with if it's a certain type of gas...can't remember the specifics...

apart from that I'm sure it's just a question of dismantling. Probably worth keeping the ends of the pipes etc sealed up so the seals don't dry up in the compressor...must be worth something to someone on a hot island

...some people have used the compressor to provide on board air as they have quite a high cfm

Yup Pricilla, same in Canada where I was. In fact there is a kit called a gas recovery kit sold in Canada when working on AC systems. We have used it a few times when I had my Euro performance shop in Canada but for the most part I used to have the AC guys come over to do it.

The good thing is that this one is totally dry, it all leaked into the athmosphere already. We will seal everything from water and debris for sure.

I am sure a lot of Landy guys will be after the system especially the guys who play in wet mud, having their windows rolled up.

I might retain the blower/fan as you said for air only if I can separate it, if not I will rig up another fan and use the existing vents.

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers.

 

[Shifty1962]

I took the A/C out of my TD5 CSW when I first got it for many of the same reasons as you.
I also wanted the extra leg room it gives in the cab.
Sold the bits on fleabay to a bloke in Kenya.
My compressor is good so was going to sort out an on board air system, for inflating tyres etc. but not got round to it yet.
It only took me an hour to remove.

 

[Barbados]

I took the A/C out of my TD5 CSW when I first got it for many of the same reasons as you.
I also wanted the extra leg room it gives in the cab.
Sold the bits on fleabay to a bloke in Kenya.
My compressor is good so was going to sort out an on board air system, for inflating tyres etc. but not got round to it yet.
It only took me an hour to remove.

You saved me from going looking for my thread LOL, I was jsut about to give an update. It took me about 2 hrs working alone with only mechanical tools. I just completed building my garage and have to get the electricals done inside do I could power up my compressor, mig welder, metal Lathe, milling machine etc.

Everything came out fairly OK, I am new to Landys and did not do any research prior to removing it so I was basically removing it using logic. I will get another blower separately for just fresh air using the existing vents. On board air is easy, there are nice small compact 12 volt air compressors available.

 

[Barbados]

So the AC is out, I will remove the AC/Fan/Vent dash controls and use that space for my HF HAM Radio.

I have so much room now to work on my turbo, exhaust manifold, lift and high pressure pumps etc. The starter much be a BPITA to remove with the blower there.

I will weigh everything removed just out of curiosity. I also removed all of the added steel Land Rover added into the vans to get it into the commercial weight class. I am sure with the AC and the steel bedding removed I must have lightened the Landy by 500 lbs or more.

I will post pics and give a basic write up, nothing to it really, on how to remove the entire AC system.

On a scale of 1 to 5, removal difficulty is 1 and injuries sustained 0 )
Time, cater for around 2-3 to be safe. I had a few rusted bolts with slowed me down and used all mechanical tools only.

I am sooooooo happy that my bulkhead only has rust where the AC plenum mated with the bulkhead, condensation for sure. I will cut the rust out and either rivet or use stainless steel screws to secure an aluminum plate there.

Will add more pics later, but here is all of which I have removed so far..

Cheers.

.

 

[Barbados]

Speaking about rust, I have friends with power and sail boats I help them to maintain. These boats make me feel like the rust I worry about is peanuts to all the corrosion these boats suffer from.

They use a lot of stainless for sure but the salt water and air batters all the wires and aluminum. Yesterday and part of today I replaced the VHF emergency radio antenna cable with a bigger and more better quality, every connector I removed was like powder.

Definitely keeping my Landy form the ocean, no skinny dipping for her

 

[Pricilla]

..completely agree about keeping weight to a minimum, I know they are heavyweights but no point carrying stuff you don't need...

 

[Barbados]

..completely agree about keeping weight to a minimum, I know they are heavyweights but no point carrying stuff you don't need...

Pricilla its a LOT of weight, I have everything there put aside to weigh. Its hauling around all that weight burning fuel, adding more wear and tear on the suspension, brakes etc.

The Landy will be a bit quicker and might handle a bit better, of course you wont try tossing the rear end around turns like its a BMW. I will install dynomat which will be practical weight added but not anything near to what I have removed.

Hopefully I will pull the rad and intercooler, check for rust and do the timing belt at the same time. The previous owner said it was done 2 years ago but I rather do it myself and I know how long its in there.

Cheers.

 

[Barbados]

Been busy with business Mates and Gals.

I made some time to weigh the AC components taken out from my Landy.....a total of 69.8 Lbs, could not believe it weighs so much.

Cant wait to weigh the tons of steel added to the 3 door models to get them to meet the commercial weight requirements. Below a certain weight here, your vehicle would be classified as luxury, so the duty and other taxes adds up to a whooping 300%.

So messed up here with the auto industry. Same with parts, the prices for landy parts are most times tripled here.

 

[Pricilla]

30 kg, it's a lot of weight to accelerate, brake, hold on the road or in the mud. Well worth dumping if you don't need it...free performance upgrade

I don't know how much a series 2a hardtop weighs 50kg? When I go topless and drop the screen in the summer there's a hill I can get up in third which normally would take second to get up.

 

[Barbados]

30Kg sure is quite a bit of weight. Will be using some of that saved weight Pricilla for a bigger inter-cooler and a 16" dia electric supplementary fan.

Would love to see pics of your Landy with top and topless, must be nice to have a "convertible" landy

Amazing the difference it made for you, from not being able to go up a hill with top and topless making it. I have a hang scale and a digital bathroom scale which I weigh stuff with.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Shifty1962]

I removed the viscous fan and used the redundant A/C electric fan with a manual switch to operate the fan relay when needed. Its also wired up to a coolant thermo switch but I just like the idea of an overide when I'm towing.

 

[Barbados]

I removed the viscous fan and used the redundant A/C electric fan with a manual switch to operate the fan relay when needed. Its also wired up to a coolant thermo switch but I just like the idea of an overide when I'm towing.

I would have left the viscous fan and used the AC fans as supplementary fans in case you needed more cooling.

I have removed viscous vans on some of my BMWs, but replaced them with extracting fans. Rather than fight the cool air trying to get in by using the viscous fan pushing hot air from the engine bay, the extracting fans helps move the incoming cool air faster.

I will send the rad to a guy who changes cores, have him install more efficient and a thicker core to help keep the engine cooler. Since its summer here year round which can climb to 34 deg C, a cooler thermostat will be in order too.

I will be increasing boost and adding fuel but will watch the EGT and engine temp. Hopefully with the mods I will be doing to the engine when I overhaul it and the cooling add ons, she should be happy.