A/C removal

[Trident1]

Is there anything special I need to know about removing the A/C from a 73 Vert? It is a convertible...in Ohio not phoenix... so i thought removing it and its components would clean up and open up the engine bay a little bit.

 

[Bill73Ragtop]

Depending on what's in it - R-12 or 134a - you need to get it pumped out. You may have a problem finding someone to do it if its R-12 since the two need to be kept separate to avoid cross contamination of equipment.

Once it's pumped out, it's just a matter of disconnecting everything.

 

[Trident1]

Thank you very much!!

The system is empty right now (verified by shop during prepurchase inspection a year ago).

 

[Butch65]

Is there anything special I need to know about removing the A/C from a 73 Vert? It is a convertible...in Ohio not phoenix... so i thought removing it and its components would clean up and open up the engine bay a little bit.

Trident-

We took ours out when we built the engine and "cleaned" up the engine compartment. Having that hunk of turning love out of the way does open up the bay but now that she is back on the road and my son is driving it as his daily driver, we are putting air back on the car in a hurry! We're in northern Georgia, and while it gets hot, its the humidity that is the killer. With as many t-storms as we get blowing through, having the ac to help keep the windows clear is a must for us.

After much consideration and debate on which way to go (R12 or 134) we're going to go with Classic Auto Air's under hood update kit with the Sanden compressor. Short term we'll sacrifice the under hood appearance for safety and comfort. I visited Concept One last week, and as soon as the piggy bank fills up, we're gonna install their system and really pretty up the engine bay. ::thumb::

http://www.c1pulleys.com/fordcleveland-01.html

 

[jbojo]

Here is the March System that has 1 belt. I am using this and it really cleans up the engine bay.

http://marchperformance.com/ford/ford-351-cleveland/all-inclusive-kits/ford-351-cleveland-351m-400m-alternator-and-a-c-w-optional-power-steering-style-track-kit.html

 

[Butch65]

::thumb::

 

[Trident1]

Here is the March System that has 1 belt. I am using this and it really cleans up the engine bay.

http://marchperformance.com/ford/ford-351-cleveland/all-inclusive-kits/ford-351-cleveland-351m-400m-alternator-and-a-c-w-optional-power-steering-style-track-kit.html

That is pretty sweet looking!!

 

[Mesozoic]

I will never live without A/C again. Moving from Vancouver, Canada to Tucson, AZ, I almost DIED while idling at a traffic light just after moving. However, the old A/C systems are garbage compared to modern stuff. What I ended up doing was purchasing a York to Sanden style compressor adapter that bolts directly to the OEM Cleveland A/C bracket. Mounted a Seltec HD compressor (slightly better than a Sanden), had new lines made up for R-134a, used a brand new universal fit high efficiency parallel flow condenser, new receiver/drier, new expansion valve, reused the OE evaporator and HVAC controls, and BAM: ice cold modern A/C in a vintage Ford.