Mondial Qv Aircon Removal

Can someone please tell me the procedure for removing the aircon system, I want to remove the whole lot for weight loss on my race car, I don't really know a lot about them and just need to know whats got to be removed and which part first etc..., also do I have to plug anything on the engine or is it a straight removal etc...

Any help would be great

 

Pete if the A/C still has freon in it,then you have to bring it to a A/C specialist to reclaim the freon.If not it's easier.The heaviest part would be the compressor.This is pretty straight forward bolt off.If you ever have any intention of refitting it then I would probably leave the refrigerant hoses in.If not then remove them to.Also remove the condenser as this will improve the airflow across the radiator.To remove the evaporator might be a bit of a pain so I'm not sure its worth it unless you are stripping out the dash as well

 

Thanks Maurice,
None of it will be going back in, so i want to remove as much as possible, I will be keeping the dash in for now, I will possibly strip it out and replace it with a smaller digital dash by Stack or Aim etc..., (I did have a new Stack dash but had to sell it to help fund my garage build)

I would be surprised if it still has freon in as it hasn't been used in at least 6 years and when I got it it wasn't exactly 'cool' inside.

What I would really appreciate is some pics of the compressor/condensor etc... so I know exactly what to take out, i'm not totally stupid but i've just never worked with an a/c unit before

 

Does anyone have any pics of the compressor etc..., so I know what to remove, Thanks

 

Pete I dont have any pics on hand but a search will yield more info.As for where its located,the compressor is located closest to the passenger side gas tank(for left hand drive cars).You have to remove the wheel,wheel well and you can access it from there and from on top.There should be 4-6 bolts that need removing and then also the belt.I'm not 100% sure on how the QV set up is but on the earlier 308 there is 2 belts.One for alternator,waterpump and another for A/C.The condenser is located in front of the radiator which looks like a smaller version of the radiator.The hoses run along side the car and you will need to remove the passenger side gas tank in order to remove them.Pete I just realised you are in the UK so it would be the Drivers side on your car

 

Pete

give me a call and I'll talk you through it

 

i think on the mondials the condesor sits in front of the front tires. not infront of the radiator, at least on my mondial 8 the condesor is in front of the driver side front tire and has it's own puller fan.

 

Yep

Compressor on right (drivers side) of engine off the front bank with pipes running through the drivers side sills to the front then across to the passenger side to condenser and other kit on the right (all for RHD car)

My sugestion wouls be to remove everything apart from the pipes in the sills (as well as all the heater bits as Pete's is a track car)

 

Sorry I wasn't 100% sure but this is the case with the GT4

 

Thanks again Maurice.

I took the airbox off so I could see a bit better (and noticed a nice water leak on the water pump), if I simply remove the parts will I leave any belts too slack i.e. where a pulley was, or is there just one belt for the A/C I can take off, I see the hoses you are on about, they are huge, I was trying to follow where they go and see about removing them as i would guess they weigh at least 3-kgs alone

 

I think I see that when I looked through some pics and had a quick look under the car, (in front of wheel)

 

Thanks Andy.

Can we do it via wording as I find it so much easier, when I speak to someone I forget half of what was said (we will speak soon!!)

 

I think I did see it, I am going to take some pics today and post them here, basically to see if this is whats got to come off

 

The pipes through the sills do look like a bugger to remove, is it a hard job to get them out, obviously I would rather salvage them and sell them rather than cut them out

 

Pete your probably better off cut them out as I don't think there would be a market for 20 year old refrigerant lines.If mine were to leak then i would replace with new.I could be wrong but being an A/C mechanic this is my opinion

 

Thanks Maurice, I'll see what Andrewg has to say, he deals in used Mondial parts, if theres no market for them I will chop them out to save time & extra weight.

 

I have one small problem, I am in the process of the removing the parts attached to the engine and I can't seem to get the nut that is up behind the ac pulley (see pic), I can't seem to get a spanner or a socket in there
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Please ignore last comment I now have it all removed.

I think there must have been a hose leak somewhere in the past as most parts on that side of the engine have surface rust and ali parts have that familiar white powder, its all coming off pretty easy though

 

Well I finally got the compressor and other parts weighed, and I just realised from a diagram there is still more to remove.
The compressor with its brackets weighs 12.5kgs
The Condensor Rad with its fan weighs 5.1kgs

 

I just removed the main vent/fan unit under the dash (what a job that was), can anyone tell me what the light blue liquid is, is that freon?, also is it harmful or is it just an additive into water, I spilt some on my garage floor also got it in the footwell as well and over a few wires & connectors (nothing bad though)

 

It sounds like a dye that must have been added to the A/C system at some point to help find leaks.If so its not harmful obviosly dont go drinking it!

 

I don't know what it is, it had no smell or anything, the only thing was where I had spilled it it left a residue like it wasn't drying
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Pete if it came out of the pipes then it more than likely is the dye

 

It came from the fatter left pipe sticking out in the second pic

 

umm the AC box also holds the heater core so that would make it your cooling system water/antifreeze which would color match to most stuff used by BMW and mercedes.

check your coolant color i'd bet they're the same color. and glycerin always looks wet when it gets on fabrics.

were you also planning on taking out the heater & defroster?