Date:         Sat, 5 Mar 2005 18:11:00 -0500
Reply-To:     Martine Boudreault <martine.boud@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Martine Boudreault <martine.boud@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject:      FW: Air conditioning keep it or leave it?
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Thank you all for the great input.
Based on your comments and technical expertise (Mechanical and geography!)
I am now at 50-50 to remove the AC.  If I summarise some of the information
I received:

-Engine too small to run an AC ... No but mileage will be lower.
-North of Boston (On the map I use) ... No AC needed
-If you are in hot area like Texas, yes you need it (Unless you are not a
salesman!)
-Value of Westy ... lower but maybe not significant
-Surfer ... don't need it
-Minimum cost to fix $800 and more money to maintain if you don't use it
very often ... like people living in Texas

To make my decision I need 49-51 (Democratic decision), I still need to
evaluate:
1.Do I need to replace the complete cabinet or when I remove the plastic
tunnel and heat exchanger I will be able to built a small door and use the
new space for storage
2.Any space gain inside the small shelving cabinet on the side?
3.Some WEB site are stating "2.1l engine are too small and overheating too
common to run an AC and even if you have one, it will not be that cold...",
anybody agrees with this statement?

Maybe we should come up with a scientific formula to make that decision?
Ex. If  "men age" = 50 then "AC needed", or house in "Chicago" and Westy
<1985 then "NO AC needed".....

Thanks again for your constructive comments.
Joel


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of
Chris Radcliffe
Sent: 4-Mar-05 10:59
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Air conditioning keep it or leave it?

I live near the coast, South of San Francisco.  I don't need AC in my '90
Westy, maybe we see 3 heat waves per year (over 85 degrees for us).  So I
removed it.

By replacing the AC cabinet with a matching storage cabinet from an earlier
year, I am able to store 3 or 4 surfboards in the ceiling, using bungee
cords to hang them from the pop-top support bars and pointing the noses into
the cabinet (door down half way).

Oh yeah, and with no boards up there, I noticed just slightly better mileage
(maybe 1 mpg) and with less weight, the vehicle handles better.

There is no question in my mind that I will keep this Westy for a long time
to come.  If I ever do sell it, it will likely be to another surfer. And the
non-AC, surfboard-storage option will be an enhancement rather than a
detriment to the sale.

ChrisR in SF


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Sharpe, John M (John)
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 6:50 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Air conditioning keep it or leave it?


Joel,

Removing the A/C may not be a good idea for resale reasons, but I did
remove it from the '86 Westy Weekender that I use to own. It never
worked in the 8 years that I had the van to that point. I remove the
whole thing, compressor, evaporator, hoses, dash controls you name it. I
was able to trade the overhead cabinet from my van for an older non-A/C
cabinet from Chris/JordanVW. The non-A/C cabinet was in poor shape so I
removed the veneer and contact paper. I then sanded, added braces and
glued the joints. I had paint mixed to match the side cabinet, primed
and did two or three top coats, matched exactly. I then got new "T"
modeling from GoWesty and new speakers. I filled in the hole in the dash
with a round tachometer mounted in piece of fiber board which I had
painted black. Not very useful for diving but it did help when working
on the engine. Everything ended up looking great.

It seemed to me that the van was happier without it, but that's just my
opinion.

I was able to use it a trade for the 02 EV, technically I got $2K for it
but the sale receipt listed it as $6k, used car dealers and the games
they play.

John
83.5 camper, the project, w/o A/C!
02 Eurovan MV, the driver

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Martine Boudreault
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 8:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Air conditioning keep it or leave it?


I have a 1989 Westy.  Air Conditioning never worked and I have to change
the front radiator. (Read: spend lots of $$)  My question could become
very subjective but here it is;  is it wise to keep the AC if you leave
north of Boston?  I read many email saying that our 2.1l engine are not
design for AC anyway.  Should I keep it in the Westy or take it out and
have a nice storage cabinet?  Has anyone remove the AC heat exchanger to
make a storage cabinet, is this a good idea? Thanks Joel