I spent ages writing a little intro and the problem I'm trying to find ideas to. Being new here, I did something wrong, and lost it all. Here is a short version.

I have a 5.8l, propane, 86 150 lariat. I bought it Friday. It has Air Conditioning. Every vehicle I've ever bought w/ AC had a dud pump, evap or other. Every vehicle I've bought (20 or so) has had the heatercore go in the first 2 weeks. I'm in northern Alberta, cold winters, short cool summers.

I'm thinking of getting rid of the AC because:
- one belt less to worry about
- get rid of that tangle of pumps, hoses, cores etc- really clean up the engine compartment.
- less clutter means better/easier working conditions, fewer things to get confused with.
- I understand it uses 12HP to drive the AC pump- better fuel economy

Your views would be really appreciated.

Regards,

Justin the newcomer to Northern Canada, this forum and f150 trucks.

 

Your not alone, everything I ever bought with A/C didn't work. Usually too expensive to fix them right on an older vehicle so I rip it out and save a few gallons of gas and make some room.
Someday I figure I'll get one with working A./C but I'm not gonna hold my breath 'til it happens!

 

It does cost you any fuel economy unless you have it turned on, otherwise it just freewheels. It wastes less fuel then the drag of driving around with your windows open. It automatically disengages at wide open throttle, so it doesn't cost you any power/acceleration. The only reason i would remove a/c is if you don't have the money or don't want a/c bad enough to spend the money to fix it. Personally i love it, even in the winter, it helps defog the windshield really fast.

-Jon

 

Not sure what your setup looks like but, when I was poor and my old Dodge AC gave out, I bypassed the compressor pulley with a shorter belt as it was making an aweful racket.

When it's time to sell, I think "AC doesn't work" is more marketable than "No AC".

 

Points taken about the economy. I have to do the heater core this weekend- mass of AC plumbing in the way. Do like the idea of a cleaner engine bay. Marketing when selling? Ummm...this is a northern Alberta farming truck....ugly like a decomposing pig hit by a feight train...I probably will run it like previous vehicles till the last splutter.
Thanks for your input! I'll let you know what happens.
Justin

 

When I finally took my old Dodge to the junkyard the dealer said "20 bucks."

And I said, "but, it's got AC."

And he said, "OK, 25".

 

During the winter, the AC works in wiith your heater to remove moisture out of the cab when the defroster is turned on.

Larry

 

You answered my question: how does AC demist the windscreen? All vehicles I've had only had a heater, and that blew the condensation/frost off pretty good- except the Fiat Panda, that had a heater more suitable for southern Italy- ie, innefective.

Justin

 

When you switch to Defrost, it also turns on the AC Compressor clutch. The heater system is in recirculate mode, and all the cab air that is pulled thru the heater to the windsheild passes over the AC coils which is cooler than the air from the heater core, and removed the moisture.