Removing A/C

[Richard Hoffman]

As for the A/C - no, 4 years of physics weren't wasted on me.  Well maybe
they were, but I know F=ma as well as the next guy.  Compared to a 3174lb
car, 41 lbs is not terribly significant.
Lets do the math!
162 hp car at 3174 lbs: hp/weight ratio is .0510
162 hp car at 3133 lbs: hp/weight ratio is .0517
now we plug the revised ratio back against the original weight and get a new
hp figure of 164hp. The weight reduction would make an apparent 2 hp gain.
Of course it will affect weight distribution, handling, and braking as well.
I am not building a race car and I think I would rather not cook in the car.

The reason I posted this is because of people telling me how much faster
their car is with the A/C removed.  Of course it draws engine power when in
use, but if you aren't using it, then there is no power robbed save the
rotational intertia of the pulley and the belt to drive it.

Next time I try any sort of discussion on A/C weight I am going to put the
car on corner scales so I can address the weight distribution issue.
Richard
----- Original Message -----
From: <JShadzi at aol.com>
To: <billzcat1 at hotmail.com>; <quattro at audifans.com>; <audi20v at rennlist.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: Removing A/C = Little weight savings


> --
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> Richard, though 40 lbs doesn't seem like a lot of weight, this is probably
> the most substantial one-time weight removal you can do, and combined with
a few
> other weight reduction things can pull maybe 75lbs out of the car.
> Realistically, this isn't a huge amount, but every lb counts, do some
reading on the
> cause of weight on acceleration.
>
> Also, the AC weight in out in front of the front axles, in this regard
40lbs
> is quite significant wrt weight distribution, etc.
>
> Overall, if you're going to be baking in your car to save 40lbs, yes, its
not
> worth it, in most cases the AC is in the way of other upgrades, etc, and
> that's usually the reason it comes out for me, the fact that its in the
way of
> other, "more important" things.
>
> If you want to get some more weight out of that Coupe get rid of those
power
> front seats, that's probably another 40lbs each seat (if you have power
> passenger too) there, and now your'e almost up to 100lbs removed ;)
>
> Javad
>
>
>
> In a message dated 7/27/2003 12:51:16 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> billzcat1 at hotmail.com writes:
>
> > Hello all!
> > A while back there were some threads about removing A/C  Figures from
60-150
> > lbs were quoted. I just finished the A/C delete on a 90 CQ and used my
> > digital postal scale to weigh everything since I was curious how much
weight
> > was really saved.
> >
> > This total represents EVERYTHING from the engine-bay side of the A/C
system.
> > I took off all lines, brackets and fittings from the bumper to the
firewall.
> > I didn't touch anything under the dash, since thats WAY too much work!!
> > Compressor with bracket still attached - 20lbs, .5 oz
> > Condensor - 10lbs, 13.5 oz
> > Small cast iron bracket - 13.3 oz
> > Aluminum pipe with solenoids attached - 6.1 oz
> > Freon Accumulator - 2lbs, 12.0 oz
> > 5 aluminum/rubber lines - 12.6 oz
> > - 4.6 oz
> > - 1lb, 12.6 oz
> > - 1lb, 6.6 oz
> > - 2lbs, 12.5 oz
> >
> > Total 41 lbs, 14.3 oz
> > I was not impressed by this amount of weigh savings. Just passing along
the
> > info as something to consider before deleting A/C. It's not saving that
much
> > weight IMO!
> >
> > Richard
> >
>
>