In the interest of maximum weight savings on your performance oriented (non daily driver) Fiero, would you drop the A/C system?

Yes

Mine has not been working since spring. I'm not willing to spend the money to fix it. I also lived in SC for 5 years and hardly ever ran the A/C. In my mind, the only reason to have it is resale value.

Most likely, I use windows all the time, unless its hot and rainy.

Here in the deep South, air conditioning is almost a necessity.

I for one would not drop the A/C.

For a while mine was not working properly , i was missing it very much
Even with the windows down at a stop light , those car are very hot inside .
If it ever break , i'll get it fix right away .
On the highway it's not that bad , but when it's raining i prefer to have it ( my opinion )

[This message has been edited by Robert 2 (edited 12-16-2009).]

I will spend hours, and $$$ to make sure mine works. Especially on a car like ours where the engine is right behind your head, it gets hot inside... My theory is, if you do your peformance mods correctly, you should have any problems hauling around a few extra things... :-)

To those that have had thier exhaust manifold and y-pipe wrapped or coated. Did that change the heat factor any inside with the air conditioner turned off.

I live in Texas that should answer your question. I have driven quite awhile with the air broken and it is not too bad if you can keep moving but with today's traffic I would never remove it for the little performance gain.

Would you get a divorce or break up with your girlfriend to save that extra 100 pounds or more

[This message has been edited by Terry_w (edited 12-16-2009).]

I removed A/C from my car; never missed it one bit; and this is a daily driver. (I live in the same city as Robert 2)
I also ditched the spare tire and jack.
I prefer a clean uncluttered engine bay, and the simpler, more elegant belt routing.
I would prefer not having power windows and not having a sunroof.

In retrospect, I should have purchased a base Formula rather than an overweight GT...

In Houston, I would send my car to the crusher if the a/c was unrepairable.

My fiero is for track use and driving to the track only. So, I removed it. In southern Texas with no back window = buckets of sweat. But it's worth the extra couple tenths.

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'84 3800SC, XP cam, 3.2 pully, HPTuners, N* TB, 4sp, SPEC 3+ clutch, Aluminium flywheel, pacesetter headers, F355 body kit, weight reduction

In my XTC - black car - you can not get in it without AC working. It will fry you. In my 88 Formula - it's a hiway car and AC is a must too. My 86 V8 coupe is another story. It has an aftermarket AC unit up front and the compressor is in place but there are no lines running from front to rear. This car is a toy and as much as I like AC here in far West Texas, it is not high on my priority list for this car. For now, I will remove the aftermarket AC - mainly because it does not work but alos because it looks like caca and is just a lump of extra weight. Maybe later on down the road, I will get a stock AC unit with factoy lines and hook it all up. I'll try it for a summer to see how it worksout. It may never get AC put back in it.

Here's the funky aftermarket AC unit:

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: I removed A/C from my car; never missed it one bit; and this is a daily driver. (I live in the same city as Robert 2) ...

And you both live in Quebec and I would think that the number of days requiring AC would be less than others saaaay living in the Carolinas or Texas. When I was younger I had a Mustang with no AC and it was ok living in MA. Now that I’m a little older and a little wiser, I wouldn’t get another car without AC. I’m planning on moving to SC this coming summer and working AC in my Fiero is going to be a must. The performance gain by removing the weight of the AC system will be negligible at best for a daily driver. If you want to “go” lined up at a stop light with somebody, shut it off. Then after you’re way ahead, turn it back on. Plus you have to figure the MAJOR resale value decrease if you take it out. Broken is one thing, gone is totally different. Just my 5 cents worth.
Edit to say; a track/strip car i'd take it out but even in a weekend cruiser, i'd leave it in.

[This message has been edited by DLCLK87GT (edited 12-16-2009).]

very

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First LX9 Fiero GT, 1987 | My Fiero Fuel Economy | MPG Display for OBD I
Youtube Videos of My GT | modernize your fiero with technology!
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem
Fiero's are people too. We pay just as much attention to them, if not more than our loved ones
screw paying those bastards. im not going to become rich by paying for things.....

I did the full 402 A/C upgrade and have not regreted it.

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1988 GT

I don't see how resale value is important, because these are money pit project cars - with or without A/C, Fieros are pretty worthless. Every bit of weight reduction helps - it's just a question of is the compromise worth it to you?

Not with my Fiero, but in my previous car in which I deleted the working A/C system, here's a story:

It was a hot summer day, and I had a female friend as a passenger.
She asked me if it would be okay for her to remove her shirt, so that she wouldn't get a diagonal sweat line from the seat belt on her shirt!

If "performance oriented (non daily driver)" means track car, yes.
If it's going to be driven on the street, no.

There's no real benefit for a "performance street car" but on a race track where every lbs counts, it's worth it.

Gotta have AC in NC, well I do anyway, far too humid in summer to manage without

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Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

I live in central Alabama and WITH AC it's hot and muggy in the summer. My GT's AC doesn't work and as soon as the 3400 swap is finished, that's the next priority.

I have done a few engine swaps and none of them had functional AC. This LS4 will be the first to have it. But it will also have the duel climate control so the driver and passenger will have there own control. The heater is functional and the duel climate is awesome.
There has only been a few times that I missed the AC in my Fiero's, so in a "performance" none daily driver I could live without it.

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I am really surprised at how many people use A/C. Windows are fine for me even when I lived in South Carolina.

I removed my AC when I did the engine swap. I purposely bought a TTop car and it would be a shame to not pull the ttops out on a nice day only to run the AC. Sure it gets warm in south texas, but get moving and the wind keeps me cool. Then again if I was an old fart it might be a differnt story.

Non Daily Driver, no AC needed. DD, then yes absolutely needed

Living in Florida AC is a must, even if if not a DD car.

quote Originally posted by FieroReinke: I removed my AC when I did the engine swap. I purposely bought a TTop car and it would be a shame to not pull the ttops out on a nice day only to run the AC. Sure it gets warm in south texas, but get moving and the wind keeps me cool. Then again if I was an old fart it might be a differnt story.

It's not an either or... I run the a/c with the t-tops off. I wired my climate control in such a way I can direct the cold air to the floor only. That way my feet stay cool even with the roof open.

Oh and by the way your goal in life is to be an old Fart some day so be nice to old Farts.

Miami and A/C go hand in hand. Right now it is 85*
We have been matching and / or beating record heat for the last month.

Here in Miami is an A/C company that will install your A/C unit for free IF the temp on Jan 1 is 86*
The way we have been going, I am sure that company is starting to worry just a little.

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: I don't see how resale value is important, because these are money pit project cars - with or without A/C, Fieros are pretty worthless. Every bit of weight reduction helps - it's just a question of is the compromise worth it to you? Not with my Fiero, but in my previous car in which I deleted the working A/C system, here's a story: It was a hot summer day, and I had a female friend as a passenger. She asked me if it would be okay for her to remove her shirt, so that she wouldn't get a diagonal sweat line from the seat belt on her shirt!

But if you would have had to fiddle more with her in the car , then the A/C would have been a must .LOL

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: I don't see how resale value is important, because these are money pit project cars - with or without A/C, Fieros are pretty worthless. Every bit of weight reduction helps - it's just a question of is the compromise worth it to you?

True. I was thinking more along the line of IF you ever go to sell your money pit, you will probably get more interest in it if the AC is in it (working a +) than with a car that had the AC removed to save weight. I know personally that would send up some red flags to me. reduced weight = racing = beaten on = keep looking.

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: It was a hot summer day, and I had a female friend as a passenger. She asked me if it would be okay for her to remove her shirt, so that she wouldn't get a diagonal sweat line from the seat belt on her shirt!

that should be reason enough right there to KEEP the AC! Probably thinking to herself “OMG, what a piece of crap, can’t believe there’s no AC, I'll bet so and so has AC in HIS car!” BUT ya it does come down to personal choice.

I just read in Car and Driver that the Porsche GT3 doesn't come with A/C. I can think of a few other "track ready" cars that don't come with Stereos either for weight savings. If it's hot enough for A/C, windows are going down and the top is coming off. Only thing I can't stand is running into ran and the windshield fogging up. Still, I have been driving my car for over a year without charging the A/C and I only wished I had it once. So why not delete it? My first car was a custom painted pearl white bumper pad notchie with no A/C, but in High School, I didn't care.

...I miss that car.
Pearl White?...

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87 GT Tilt Clip-Widebody-RamAir-Fastback-GlassHatch Powered by SBC 383 6-speed w/ NOS
Build Thread

Goals in Life:
1. Get Married..........Check!
2. Build Dream Car..........Check!
3. Get Wife to Come Back...

Here's my unorthodox view on used cars:
I would actually prefer an enthusiast's car that has been beaten on - sure, the clutch may be worn thin - but they're normally well maintained - brake fluid flushed annually, rust spots grinded to bare metal and repainted right after they appear - ball joints replaced when they get loose because the enthusiast hates loose steering...

Now compare to the average driver who treats their car like an appliance - scuffs on the bumpers, dirty engine bay, infrequent oil changes causing sludge in the oil, plugs never changed, winter driven and rusted...

Next time I should pretend I don't know where the A/C button was to make her take off her shirt.
Then, once we start fiddling, I all of a sudden remember where the A/C button is, so it's more comfortable to play around, and she doesn't think I'm a cheap bastard anymore!

Edit to add: When she asked me, I said, "Sure, no problem, I don't mind." I tried to make it sound like I didn't care haha.

[This message has been edited by pmbrunelle (edited 12-16-2009).]

Not if you've got t-tops . And live in michigan. I'll be getting rid of it when I swap in the 4.9.

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1988 Metallic Red Pontiac Fiero CJB T-Top Coupe, # 784 of 1252
Modifications:
-"Custom" oxidized paint
-Cat delete
-Shiny freebie shift knob
-Gasoline
-Nice 15" Jetta 5-Spokes
IT'S RARE!!!!

quote Originally posted by Old Lar: Living in Florida AC is a must, even if if not a DD car.

None of our cars have working AC. Its been removed from the HotRod Fiero and will probably come off of the Vette this summer when I get the bypass pulley figured out.
I will keep the parts for the Vette and make sure all of the parts can be put back should I ever have to start driving it all the time.
My wife will probably get hers fixed next year but I can live without it.

I parted out a car that came without A/C and saved the A/C Delete components. Did any of you know that they came with additional fresh air vents? I was going to look at the possibility of adding those additional vents to my A/C equip car.

I live in Arizona. A/C is more important than the steering wheel.

I live in Canada and have to have it. All my vehicles have it except the 4.9 Fiero, but if I can find a parts car so I can transplant the a/c from it, then it will have it too.

May not use it as often as some people, but it is sure nice to have when we do have those warm days...

quote Originally posted by Jefrysuko: I parted out a car that came without A/C and saved the A/C Delete components. Did any of you know that they came with additional fresh air vents? I was going to look at the possibility of adding those additional vents to my A/C equip car.

I thought you could just remove all the components. What parts do you need to delete the A/C?

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: It was a hot summer day, and I had a female friend as a passenger. She asked me if it would be okay for her to remove her shirt, so that she wouldn't get a diagonal sweat line from the seat belt on her shirt!

Now that would have to be classified as a performance vehicle....

quote Originally posted by ClayTonto: I thought you could just remove all the components. What parts do you need to delete the A/C?

The heater box cover is different on non AC cars and the heater controls are different.