83 Aircooled Vanagaon AC Belt

[steve74baywin]

I'm helping someone put an Engine back in an 83 Aircooled Vanagon, the AC belt wasn't on from previous owner and we think it might not work. While looking at the set up we are wondering if the AC belt can be installed with the engine in, we don't have a belt ATT, but in a few months might want to work on the AC and don't want to have to drop the engine.
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Steve

[mightyart]

I am pretty sure you can get it back on again, it was all put on at the dealership. I got all that crap off with the engine in. Here's my Opinion on aircooled Vanagons and A/C, they don't mix well, especially if it's a Westy. You can determine real quick if you want to keep it on there.
When you bleed it to pull the engine if you don't get any Freon coming out of it (mine didn't so much as hiss), Forget it. Mine also ran cooler afer I got the compressor off, I think it acted like a big heat sink. Putting the piece of tin back helps cooling also. I took it all off and this is what else I found. 2 fans behind condensor were seized and all rusty. The lines run the lenth of the van (= expensive to replace), and mine where old and brittle from 20 some Texas summers, they wouldn't hold any pressure for long if at all. The system also was not made by VW so the quality of parts was poor. If it came with the belt off it probably hasn't worked in a long time. Anyway that's my 2 cents, hope it helps.
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[steve74baywin]

We took the engine out a while ago but left the compressor all connected and off to the side, so I don't know if it had any freon in it or not. It is a passenger model, and it's new owner would like AC.
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Steve

[mightyart]

Don't worry about the belt then you can get it on with the engine in, It will be the least of his problems. I would Defiantly let the new owner worry about the A/C.
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