air con removal/swap

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:34 am

didn't know where to put this, so gonna dump it here.

My question is, is it possible to remove the aircon, but retain the heater and blower? What is involved; just removal of the compressor and condensor?

If so is there someone in sydney that has an NA without aircon (but with heating, and blower), that wants aircon? Could we do a swap of related components?

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:29 pm

believe it's possible & not that difficult, but hang onto the parts for best resale as it's important option for many buyers. of course you also need to remove it safely & responsibly given what's invovled. there used to be a few threads on this on here or the big forum:
http://www.miata.net/garage/AirInstall/index.html
http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=Jic ... =213551321

Pamex · Postby **Pamex** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:42 pm

Yeah, pretty much just compressor and condensor. It will only take you a couple of hours. From memory you'll be taking out the radiator as well temporarily. There's a heap of piping around the engine bay you can take out too. It's a fun job.

Get some sort of guard to stick in front of the radiator too, and be careful of the fins. Gutter guard cable tied on works well and you can't see it unless you're on your hands and knees looking in.

I highly recommend everyone take out their air-con. :-D

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:57 pm

driving your car is wet and cold conditions apart from the obvious hot days the aircond is a marvel. Driving old sports cars and not being able to see was never my idea of fun. Would not buy an MX5 without air. 93 nailed it - keep the bits.

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:57 pm

Good call on the resale value.

Also, will be doing this at the same time as replacing radiator and modifying intake, so everything in front of the block will be out = super easy

Well I'm removing it for 3 reasons really
1) being an <80kw car, having to power the compressor means lifeless driving
2) weight saving
3) frees up air getting to the radiator (i could jut be dreaming here though)

Also, you drive a convertible; it gets hot, you take the roof off!!

What do you mean about not being able to see?

rossint · Postby **rossint** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:51 pm

I took the stuff in the engine bay out of my car, not that hard a job. I didn't need to take the radiator out to get the condenser out. It's a bit fiddly getting into the tight places but not impossible. Theres also a bit behind the dash that you can remove and replace with a straight pipe to retain the heater and blower.
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=353095

Pamex · Postby **Pamex** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 9:05 am

There were a few reasons I took mine out. The biggest being that it was stuffed.

I've never been a fan of air-con (I hate the feeling of it. Yeah, I know I'm weird. I just prefer open windows. :-D) so I knew I'd never get around to having it fixed.

It freed up room in the engine bay for me, which was the only way I could fit the Mania CAI in and the strut brace I had.

I've never had vision problems and I've been in some pretty cold and wet places (Yass + Volvo + winter + the dead of night. For one example :mrgreen:

).

If you don't mind the heat in summer, then it's a good option. Even when I still lived in QLD, I never used aircon in any of my cars.

I will warn you that you'll have complaining passengers though. You'll have to put up with the whining. Just tune their whining out and pretend your gearbox is dying as sometimes it's preferable. :mrgreen:

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 9:45 am

mitch_f1 wrote:3) frees up air getting to the radiator (i could jut be dreaming here though)

It will allow a fair bit more air to the radiator, not sure if that is a huge issue if you have a cooling system that is in good condition. I removed mine because I use the car on the track mainly.

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:51 pm

well also because I have a ARC intake chamber, which sits right behind the radiator, so allowing more air through the radiator will allow more cool(er) air to hit the intake chamber, dropping intake temperatures...in theory at least

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:33 pm

Air cond on cars is not just about keeping cool though that is a big part of it. A/c are brilliant at removing condensation from all windows. On a wet night windows up two people you create condensation virtually immediately. On a recent trip with 5 days out of 6 raining and cold I had crystal clear vision including use of the rear window heater and felt very comfortable. Opening windows without air cond in wet conditions merely lets more moisture laden air into the car. On old cars I have had many occasions wiping windows with cloths trying to get good vision with limited success. Many cars/ drivers today run their vehicles with climate control ( a/cond) all the time. As a regularly used car I would not be without it.