Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 22:14:09 +0000
Reply-To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: removing air conditioner without spilling the Freon
In-Reply-To: <56E1CF26.8040802@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I disagree with your disagreement. My '87 had complete but inop A/C when I bought it. A local shop gave an outrageous estimate for repair so I decided to try it myself and used one of those R134a conversion kits from Advance Auto. About $50 total and a couple of hours' work to recharge the system. Cool air resulted but not terrific airflow, so then I made a discovery I've tried to share with the Vanagon community; removing the grey plastic A/C enclosure above the back seat vastly improves airflow to the front seats.
Admittedly, the Westy A/C setup is not ideal. Most of the cooling gear is at the rear of the van with a long hike for that air to reach the front, but by removing the plenum you remove a tremendous restriction to airflow and I promise you'll be shocked and delighted at the improvement once that barrier has been removed.
Take a look at this Samba thread and follow the users who've realized the benefits of going plenumless. There's some skepticism and a considerable amount of "healthy discussion," but also a few converts. I still need to replace the hoses on my van and fix a leak that requires annual charges, but it has kept me cool on a 103F day in Kentucky and countless 95-100F days elsewhere, usually with the fan on setting #2 once it cools down. Good luck!
Stephen
TheSamba.com :: Vanagon - View topic - Westfalia A/C vents & removing plenum
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On Thursday, March 10, 2016 2:46 PM, Jon VO <jondvo@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
well in the case of AC in the Westies, I'll have to disagree. Even when
the system is working perfectly, it sucks, and does NOT do much for the
front passengers, or de-humidify the front windshield.
However, If your system is intact, and functional, it probably makes
sense to keep it that way. Mine was not, and I enjoy the less 150# and
extra storage.
Jon
On 3/10/2016 11:04 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> 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
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