Some have had success pulling the 308 motor with AC attached. Question: Has anyone had experience with 1982 308GTSI US motor with AC attached?
All I know is at the factory they do install the engine with the AC compressor together. But since you’re going to disconnect the two AC hoses, why not remove the compressor first and avoid saying all the bad language if you don’t do it.
I didn't do it that way but I'm going to venture a guess that if it can indeed be done (and I imagine it can) then it just might be worth it because pulling that compressor off an in-situ engine is probably one of my least favorite jobs ever. It's just not much fun.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. When the time comes. I’ll try to pull the motor with AC attached as it is a PIA to remove. If it fails I can stop and remove it. Cheers everyone!!!
Are the fuel tanks in when the factory dropped the lump in? I've R&R'd more 308/328 engines then I care to recall. I've always just pulled the A/C out by itself. Yeah a bit of a pain. Pulling the tanks is just as much of a pain too, passenger side brake rotor gets in the way, partial suspension removal required. Long winded post to say that the only time I've been able to drop in an engine with the A/C was when the tanks and suspension were off as well. Not recommended as that's a whole nother project. The clearances are so dang tight, using a cherry picker limits movement. Best is an overhead crane or chain block& tackle cradle.
I don't think it's possible to stop mid pull and remove the compressor. Tanks are in the way and the upper frame support is too. Since the engine has to be tilted up from the front bank (5-8) that puts the compressor right between frame. It'll have to be dropped back down. My personal experience says, pull the compressor ahead of the engine removal. Yeah it's a bit of a pain, but less then trying to yank it while the engine floats in the bay.
From Birdmans website, so much easier without the AC compressor and its brackets. Image Unavailable, Please Login
FWIW, on a carb 308 (and probably an injected 308 and QV) A/C compressor removal takes 30 minutes once you have already removed the wheel well liner, drained the coolant, pulled off the pipes/hoses. It is cake in a beach chair in comparison to removing the headers; why bother trying to leave it on?
