Date:         Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:11:45 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: AC radiator removal
In-Reply-To:  <AMELJGEEOOKBMMBAGJEPIEGHDDAA.martine.boud@videotron.ca>
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Well, unless it's REALLY heavy, I'd probably leave it in. Once upon a
time I left the AC condenser out of my 1978 280Z after replacing the
head for similar reasons (also, I was lazy). A couple months later,
while driving on the freeway, the car ahead of me ran over the remains
of a wooden pallet in the road, kicking up a big cloud of wood
splinters. I swerved around the pallet, but was unable to avoid the
debris-cloud. Thinking nothing of it, I continued driving. About a
half mile down the road I notice the temp gauge climbing, and FAST. So
I pull over to the side of the road and find that a splinter of wood
from that debris cloud, about 9 inches long and sharp as a spear, had
managed to slide right between two bars of my lower grill and puncture
the radiator! A wad of epoxy putty and a gallon of water got me home,
where I immediately reinstalled the AC condenser. The AC system was
non functional, but removing the condenser never made a difference
heat-wise, and it didn't actually weigh very much. But even if it does
nothing else, it makes an EXCELLENT piece of armor against
radiator-spearing. I know it was just one of those one-in-a-million
things, but since then I've left the condenser in all my cars, whether
the AC worked or not.

On 6/30/05, Martine Boudreault <martine.boud@videotron.ca> wrote:
> This will be pretty strange for people down south, but I just removed my AC
> on my 89 Westy.  I needed the room and don't really need it up here.   I was
> told that removing the AC radiator will help cooling and remove some weight
> in the front?  Is it easy to remove the AC radiator or do I have to remove
> the complete main radiator etc...
> Thanks.
> Joel
>