Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 03:53 pm, by: Geoff McHeyzer(Cheesegrinder)
Hi,
I never use my air con, im a windows down guy, even in Brissy. I figure it must weigh a fair bit and would like to ditch it for a better power to weight ratio. I want to ditch as much as i can.
Only hitch is I want still want to run the heater (windows down at night gets chilly).
Is this feasible? What dramas do you think i'll run into?
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 04:04 pm, by: Matt Petersen(Mattmannz)
You could easily remove the compressor, lines and condensor from the front of the car under the bonnet.
That might save you about 25kg's at the most. Personally even though you don't use it if you sell the car others might be happy that it's still got working aircon. Seems a waste to pull it if it's working okay.
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 04:46 pm, by: Ben Lipman(Ben12a)
Geoff McHeyzer wrote on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 03:53 pm:
Only hitch is I want still want to run the heater (windows down at night gets chilly).
Is this feasible?
No.
Well, yes. There is a little weight saving in the compressor, condensor, and associated equipment up front of the car. The actual climate control 'module' is a monster. It is one piece from the passenger side a pillar right across to the drivers side of the trans tunnel. It weighs heaps, and contains the fan, heater core, and all the fancy flaps, gates and do-dads that make it all work. If you remove this, you'll lose everything.
You can buy 12V hair driers, and modify them to act as heater/blowers for the screen. I am sure there are also other solutions- the hot rodders would know them all. They are always looking for small, neat and simple solutions. You need to retain the ability to demist your windows for rego.
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 05:45 pm, by: Blake Gloyn(Blakenz)
the condensor core in front of radiator is about 3kg, the compressor is about 9kg, the evaporator core under the dash is only about 2 or 3kg from memory. So unless you bin the works (as described by Ben) the weight savings are hardly worth it. Sad, I know. I have considered that option also.
Friday, April 17, 2009 - 11:11 am, by: Ben Lipman(Ben12a)
Yes. Fuel weighs .74kg per litre, give or take.
If you run your tank at half full that will be a saving of 25-28kg. You will then be sitting right in the zone for fuel surge to begin if you are at the track. Probably fine for any street driving you would do, regardless of how 'hectik' you are.
I would begin by stripping everything out of the boot. If you drive around town mainly, I'd ditch all the tyre changing gear and the spare. Just keep the mobile charged. Get rid of all the trim and carpet also- I mean how much time do you spend in the boot?
Fuel plus boot stripping would net you around 50-70kg of weight depending on how much crap has built up in the boot. It will have an impact on your fuel economy, more so around town.
Friday, April 17, 2009 - 04:08 pm, by: Geoff McHeyzer(Cheesegrinder)
Thanks for the replies fellas, great info.
Ben Lipman wrote on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 04:46 pm:
The actual climate control 'module' is a monster. It is one piece from the passenger side a pillar right across to the drivers side of the trans tunnel. It weighs heaps
Ben, when you say it weighs heaps, how much approx do you reckon? also i'll be doing the boot tonight cheers.
To get to it i'd have to take off the dash right?
I am pretty keen on doing this, as I never use the studid thing anyway, and if I can sort a dimister out...no worries, resale is not an issue as im never selling it, not worth it.
Is there anything else I can ditch besides the interior? and of course the boot lining
Friday, April 17, 2009 - 08:17 pm, by: Ben Lipman(Ben12a)
I don't remember if I weighed it. I ended up smashing it to pieces in frustration. You need to disassemble a lot of the dash to get it out. Check the track car threads, Shaun or Phil got theirs out in one piece, and may have weighed it.
Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 08:01 am, by: Blake Gloyn(Blakenz)
ha ha daniel that's alright for you, at 125kg!!!and sorry daniel, i have been slow posting those rubber seals, you will get them middle of next week, in theory.
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For the Seals AND telling everyone what i weigh,lol.... NOw im gonna have to hide in the corner like a little girl... Hahaha 
