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Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:14 am

GF wanted the factory AC removed. Never used the AC .Desired to use the cabinet where the evaporator lived.

I reconditioned cabinet interior and made a door (waiting to get hinges).

I removed the evaporator, the wire bundle with various connectors and the hoses from the interior.

I pulled the wiring bundle back to near the receiver (by front left wheel) and zip tied it to the frame I removed the hose from the compressor to the receiver.

i don't have the big metric allen head to remove the compressor and I have left the hose from the compressor to the condenser in place.

We have a mechanic who can remove the condenser for us (beyond my desire/capability to do). I was going to have him also remove the receiver and it's hose to the condenser. Also have him terminate all the wiring in the best/ most reasonable way.

The mechanic may not be able to get to this before we go on a trip with the van. My questions:

Does the bracket that supports the compressor serve any other purpose or can it be removed as well?

Should I better terminate all those wire connectors before driving around for @600 miles or more? How would that best be done?

Any reason not to drive it as I have it with the partially disconnected hose from the receiver?

Any advice, suggestions etc much appreciated.

Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:39 am

My dad pulled the hoses from his van's compressor (and capped them off) and removed the compressor. We just finished a 2300-mile road trip without issue.

The compressor bracket can be removed (which Dad was going to do), but it requires removing one intake runner to get adequate access to a bracket mounting bolt.

Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:10 am

Keep the parts of the A/C compressor bracket all together, many people are trying to sell the aluminum part without the steel adjuster portion. They also try to sell the steel adjuster portion without the proprietary adjuster mechanism.

If you plan to sell it the dash switches especially the right snowflake switch are hard to locate.
Include them and all the wiring in the left rear D pillar. But 86? I'm guessing your D pillar is empty. The controls are under the dash, a black box wedged up there somewhere and the related wires.
Your A/C controls are to the left of the steering wheel?

Honestly, in my way of thinking, the condensor, the rec/drier, the compressor and all of the hoses are trash.
Not worth shipping.

The evaporator assembly with the fans and drain pan along with the electric controls are what people need.
Everything else should be replaced with new items.

There is a thread on rebuilding the 86 and earlier system, I'll locate the link and put it in here.

The 86 without the D pillar controls is a one off, not supported in the Bentley.
It is a hybrid between the 85 system and the 87 system using parts from both.

It has no safety switches and when installed or rebuilt should have the safety controls installed.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=583818

Dave

Wed Sep 01, 2021 11:09 am

Dave, that's good info! You are correct, the hoses and wiring did not go thru the D pillar. They went thru a plastic shroud/chase inside the wardrobe cabinet. The controls are to the left of the steering wheel.

So, It sounds like it would be best to keep the wiring intact and get it removed all the way to, and including the controls, the dash? (versus cutting the connectors off, taping off the wires and securing it all under the van somehow?

Wed Sep 01, 2021 12:43 pm

If you hope to sell the unit, getting the wiring and switches is a must.
Many of those items are very hard to source today. New or used.

I made a wiring diagram for the hybrid 86 for nothing existed anywhere that I could find.

Dave

Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:15 pm

djkeev wrote: If you hope to sell the unit, getting the wiring and switches is a must.
Many of those items are very hard to source today. New or used.

I made a wiring diagram for the hybrid 86 for nothing existed anywhere that I could find.

Dave

I bet if you just wished on a star, someone will just drop these off at your house someday.

Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:34 pm

super helpful Dave. We have learned not to throw out any parts until finding if anyone needs or wants them. Not so much motivated by making money from it but would be keen to get a fair value if it is worth something. Would rather get this to someone who might make use of it versus sending it to the dump.

Not sure how hard it's gonna be to get the wiring and controls out of the dash. Hopefully doesn't require dash removal..that might be a deal breaker/not worth the effort.

Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:50 pm

Wires can be spliced.

The switches and the control box are mighty important to make the system work.

Keep in mind this is an add on unit.
The entire system is stand alone and not integrated into the main wiring harness in any way.

It is installed post factory vehicle assembly in most instances.

Back in the 70’s and 80’s it was a common shop time filler at German brand dealerships to install A/C into new cars on the lot, few came with A/C preinstalled.

Mercedes had an entire shop at the docks in NJ.
They repaired shipping damages (which were at times extreme!) and installed A/C before sending vehicles to dealerships.

Dave

Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:12 pm

continued thanks for the very helpful insights Dave.

I'm thinking, because it's a stand alone/add on unit, that may make it easier for someone to add into their van.

Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:20 pm

Somewhere a cute little puppy experiences extreme trauma every time someone removes A/C from a van.

Wed Sep 01, 2021 4:54 pm

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Somewhere a cute little puppy experiences extreme trauma every time someone removes A/C from a van.

FACT. Luna just got mowled by a pitbull at the beach while overlanding :cry: :cry: :cry:

Wed Sep 01, 2021 5:30 pm

Dear gawd, is she ok? Such a cutie.

Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:57 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Dear gawd, is she ok? Such a cutie.

Pretty bad, but she's a tuff cookie, starting to move just a couple days later. Tons of stitches, paralysed leg coming back. Home cooked meals, I do physical therapy on her. Almost 16 yo :cry:

Thu Sep 02, 2021 9:35 am

markf1 wrote: GF wanted the factory AC removed. Never used the AC .Desired to use the cabinet where the evaporator lived.

Wow! You're removing your A/C for a girlfriend? Better save the parts for when she changes her mind after a trip over to Moab. It might be easier to change girlfriends.

Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:52 am

ALIKA T3 wrote: Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Dear gawd, is she ok? Such a cutie.

Pretty bad, but she's a tuff cookie, starting to move just a couple days later. Tons of stitches, paralysed leg coming back. Home cooked meals, I do physical therapy on her. Almost 16 yo :cry:

Wow, that's terrible. My daughter and I had the misfortune of watching a pitbull maul a our neighbor's little Scottish terrier. Best wishes for her full recovery.

Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:03 pm

Love My Westy wrote: markf1 wrote: GF wanted the factory AC removed. Never used the AC .Desired to use the cabinet where the evaporator lived.

Wow! You're removing your A/C for a girlfriend? Better save the parts for when she changes her mind after a trip over to Moab. It might be easier to change girlfriends.
I've made a lot of sacrifices for women over the years but removing the A/C from a vehicle would not be one that I would ever consider doing.

Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:21 pm

campism wrote: Love My Westy wrote: markf1 wrote: GF wanted the factory AC removed. Never used the AC .Desired to use the cabinet where the evaporator lived.

Wow! You're removing your A/C for a girlfriend? Better save the parts for when she changes her mind after a trip over to Moab. It might be easier to change girlfriends.
I've made a lot of sacrifices for women over the years but removing the A/C from a vehicle would not be one that I would ever consider doing.

true that! (both of those) folks in the PNW used to remove them, they they had the last few summers.....at most, take out the evap for the cabinet for the GF space, then you have less to put back...or take out the fridge and put in shelves

Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:06 am

vanis13 wrote: campism wrote: Love My Westy wrote: markf1 wrote: GF wanted the factory AC removed. Never used the AC .Desired to use the cabinet where the evaporator lived.

Wow! You're removing your A/C for a girlfriend? Better save the parts for when she changes her mind after a trip over to Moab. It might be easier to change girlfriends.
I've made a lot of sacrifices for women over the years but removing the A/C from a vehicle would not be one that I would ever consider doing.

true that! (both of those) folks in the PNW used to remove them, they they had the last few summers.....at most, take out the evap for the cabinet for the GF space, then you have less to put back...or take out the fridge and put in shelves

I've given up questioning the wisdom of A/C removal. It falls upon deaf ears.
I'm now focusing on repurposing them and to get ALL of the components out to make them work for the next owner.

We have a member here in the NorthEast with a Westy who desires A/C.

Take outs are getting harder to locate recently.

Another NE member was tossing some Mid mount ceiling units which I snagged rather then letting them become dumpster food.

While the mid mount isn't great for a Westy, I hope to see if the components can be adapted to a rear mount situation.
I do have concerns about fan velocity though.
The rear mounts fan will blow you off your feet! (I exaggerate, but they will blow an unsecured fan off a bench when hot wired! .... I caught it before it hit the floor)

Dave

Fri Sep 03, 2021 10:54 pm

Maybe the gf is looking for an excuse to not take the Vanagon when it's hot.
The old "It doesn't have Air Conditioning" whine.

Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:14 am

Love My Westy wrote: Maybe the gf is looking for an excuse to not take the Vanagon when it's hot.
The old "It doesn't have Air Conditioning" whine.

Nah...... some people just don't need A/C.
I remember my Wife and I much younger driving across the American Prairies during August in my Datsun LB110 with both windows wide open and shoving ice cubes in the dash vents saying "who needs Air Conditioning!??
That was the 1970’s before A/C went mainstream and way before we got old!

Today?
No A/C?
Nope! I Ain't going!

Dave