Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:04:21 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: removing air conditioner without spilling the Freon
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I have to agree with Ken on this. As we get older creature comforts become much more important. Not having AC will remove the folks that can afford to pay more from being future potential buyers. When features are removed from a vehicle for whatever reason there is an underlying perception. Future buyers, appraisers, insurance adjusters etc. will see that as an indication that reducing costs was the priority, not maintaining the vehicle. Everything works except the AC is broken/missing! What else is missing? Project vehicle.
Even in moderate weather AC is wonderful to have. Even able helping to clear the inside of the windows. It does more than cool. It removes humidity and yes dirt and odors.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of kenneth wilford (Van-Again)
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 10:00 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: removing air conditioner without spilling the freon
Don't do this. There are no advantages to doing it. You can remove your AC belt if you want to save the non-existent drag on the engine. Leave the rest for the next person who will want to make it work again and who will be calling me to try to get all of the parts because the last person's OCD required them to remove it all.
I have heard the saving weight argument, everything in the system in one pile on the floor would weight less than 50lbs and your dog probably weighs more than that and you aren't leaving him behind to "save weight".
I have heard the "I am never going to use it" argument which is followed by the "I live in Canada or some other cold place". You are assuming that the van is always going to live there which is a bad assumption. The next person may want to go around the world and visit the Sahara desert for all you know.
I have heard the "I want to use the cabinet space" argument. I mean IF you ever reworked the cabinets to make use of the additional space, you might be able to store a few more blankets up there in the overhead AC cabinet, but not enough storage space to really be worth all of the time and effort you are going to put into it. It would be a better use of your time to go through what you are storing right now and remove all of the items your rarely use. Now you have more organized equipment and you just saved space and weight and it probably only took you an hour and no AC systems were harmed in the filming of this movie.
Just my opinion. You have probably already made your mind up anyway. Just mail me all of the stuff you take out and give the next owner my phone number so I can sell it back to them when they call. :-)
Ken
On Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 5:43 AM, jbclem <jbclem1@charter.net> wrote:
> I have a 1986 Vanagon, and I have no use for the air conditioner. I'd
> like to remove it to get it out of the way and also to cut down on
> engine drag. I have two questions:
>
> 1. when the air conditioner is off, is there any engine drag or is it
> totally free wheeling?
> 2. is it possible to save the Freon (or whatever is in there) at
> home, without a specialized device?
>
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
