a/c removal

[Al Lucero]

Hello.....

I'm new to this forum. I have a '75 Vette that I'm working on with a/c. It's in real bad shape and I want to remove it and all the compenents on the firewall and convert it to a non-a/c car. Can this be done without much of a hassle or is the hole for the a/c stuff too big and totally different than the non-a/c cars?

Thanks folks for your time and help with this matter.

Regards,
Al

[Paul B.]

Re: a/c removal

Al, yeah it's a fairly big job. Did my '75 two years ago when I put in a new GM crate motor and converted the car to a 4spd car. The firewall hole for the A/C system is larger, but not as large as most people think. I removed everything related to the A/C system and housing, then started from scratch on installing the non-A/C system. The inner heater box must be changed too along with the non-A/C engine side heater core cover and heater core itself. The heatercore sits vertically in an A/C car, whereas in a non-A/C car it sits horizontally. On the A/C car you have one vacuum operated passenger side footwell door for fresh air, where you do not have one for the driver. On an non-A/C car, you have two cable operated doors on each side. I didn't go that far on doing this like factory, but I did wire open permanently the passenger side door. I also used a rebuilt non-A/C heater control unit. Once you remove everything and obtain a non-A/C inner heater box and non-A/C heater core cover, you can fab up an "L" shaped piece of sheet metal to fill in the rest of the A/C hole. I also got a non-A/C bezel that has the "CORVETTE" script on it along with the windshield wiper control switch. The '68-'79 heater core cover should be the same for all those years, but don't use a '68 non-A/C inner heater box. It was all cable operated. A '69-'79 unit should work.

[Al Lucero]

Re: a/c removal

Thanks Paul. You've answered exactly what I was asking about - perfectly! I thought there might be some issues with this idea. Did you have much trouble pulling the original heater core out? It looks pretty tight in there. Is it pulled from the passenger-side under the dash like most cars? I have to get at those hoses too. To disconnect the old hoses, can you get at them from under the car or do ya have to pull some items?

Thanks!

Al

[Paul B.]

Re: a/c removal

Al, if you were just servicing or replacing the heater core, then yes, it comes out through the passenger side of the firewall. If you are taking EVERYTHING out, the A/C housing on the engine side can be pulled with the core still in it. If I'm remembering correctly, the A/C housing is a fairly big "box" and I think I had to take the two sides apart to get it out. Yes, the A/C heater core hoses are kinda "underneath" the car at the lower front of the passenger footwell. You'll have to pull the right side area of the passenger dash to install a non-A/C heater core box anyways. I had all of my dash apart anyways to install the 4spd clutch pedal set-up, so I also removed all the A/C ducts that weren't going to be used while I had it apart.

[Harmon C.]

Re: a/c removal

Paul
The vent on your feet is what I like about a non A/C car. It is also why A/C cars are so hot when the A/C don't work.
Lyle

[Al Lucero]

Re: a/c removal

Thanks Paul. I'm still debating the removal of this unit. I know I have to, at least, replace the heater core and hoses.

Once again, I thank you for your help.

Regards,
Al

[Jim T.]

Re: a/c removal

Al I have replaced the heater core on my 70 coupe and I don't believe it is that much different from what was installed on your 75 at the factory. I replaced the heater core in removing it from the inside and my 70 has factory air that still cools. The heater core pipes will be verticle in a cavity of the air conditioning housing, easily removed, just slice them with a razor and peel them off and use new heater hoses for the new heater core. The heater core is retained in the under dash housing by two braces. It is really not that a difficult of a job, just take your time. One thing to remember, there is one bolt on the right side of the housing under the dash that will have to have a nut removed from the engine firewall side. Be patient it will come out. Having air there is more duct work to remove, again be patient. If you ever sell your 75, the air conditioning can make the car more attractive, I sure have enjoyed my air conditioning, it will be 37 years come August 18th. I will never forget a trip from San Diego to Dallas and driving at night across west Texas, to warm without the air and the four season air conditioning system on low blower speed we were most comfortable with a light jacket on. R12 cools.

[Al Lucero]

Re: a/c removal

Thanks a bunch for the help, Jim. I'm gonna replace the heater core for now and maybe in the near furture work on getting the a/c functioning once again. It's a real mess on the car. I think R12 is about $70 - $75 a pound and that not cheap. I have a '67 RS/SS Camaro that uses that stuff and I'm happy that it doesn't leak. You're right....it's blows incrediably cool.

Thanks for all the helpful hints folks. I'll take my time and move on with this project.

Al

[Al Lucero]

Re: a/c removal

Thanks a bunch for the help, Jim. I'm gonna replace the heater core for now and maybe in the near furture work on getting the a/c functioning once again. It's a real mess on the car. I think R12 is about $70 - $75 a pound and that not cheap. I have a '67 RS/SS Camaro that uses that stuff and I'm happy that it doesn't leak. You're right....it's blows incrediably cool.

Thanks for all the helpful hints folks. I'll take my time and move on with this project.

Al

[Verle R.]

Re: a/c removal

Al,

If the A/C is in bad condition you will have to redo the whole thing so convert it to 134. A properly set up 134 system will cool your car.

Verle

[Verle R.]

Re: a/c removal

Al,

If the A/C is in bad condition you will have to redo the whole thing so convert it to 134. A properly set up 134 system will cool your car.

Verle

[Al Lucero]

Re: a/c removal

Yep....I think I'm with you there, Verle. Thanks for the thoughts.

Al