I’m trying to bring a Formula back to life and it’s KILLING ME with the one step forward, three back. This weeks issue is; while the exhaust system is off being rebuilt I noticed the coolant tube going from the thermostat housing to the drivers side coolant pipe was pretty nasty looking and needed replacing. So while there’s room with no exhaust I decided this was the time to do it…( I have a spare). BUT how the hell do I get it out/off????? I have all 3 mounting locations undone, both upper and lower hoses removed and still I see no way of getting it off without removing the AC compressor and mounting brackets. This is 88 v-6 with AT & AC. Tricks, tips, suggestions…all are welcome. Thanks in advance.

It's been a while since I did one of those, but I remember that I exercised my vocabulary thoroughly. Embarrassed the wife and scared the dog.

If I remember correctly, the AC bracket that bolts to the front of the block has to be unbolted. The belt has to come off, and the whole compressor (I believe) tilted away from the engine, towards the back of the seat. Only then will there be enough room to remove that #@$%!&^ pipe.
Of course, there are several smaller things that have to be removed in order to unbolt that bracket. Have fun.

i swear that i have yet to do something to this car that wasn't a vocabulary exercisor! Sure hope it'll all be worth it when i'm done!

they are not easy, just keep telling yourself that you are doing it because you love the car
sometimes even I have to walk away from one for a while then I tell myself that I love working on them and every day they give me a new challange.

you must remove the AC to get that PITA out. good luck and remember you love that car
D.

Every time my wife hears me, she says "Remember... This is what you do for fun!"
Grrrrr.

As a fellow FORMULA owner I need to send karma or something ....maybe extra vocabulary?.....to get you through this. It is a noble thing you are doing.

Thanks everybody for the encouragement, I really need some.
Seems I’ve been doing the 1 step forward, 3 steps back shuffle for the past couple of months. Started with the motor/tranny mounts and while underneath I see the exhaust is junk, so that comes off only to expose the coolant tube that’s rusted, oh but to remove that I need to remove the AC compressor, might as well replace all the AC O-rings while I’m there, oh and while that’s off I see that….…..GRRRRR!!!!!! it never ends!!!
It would have been easier/quicker if I had just dropped the cradle months ago and done all this work with it out of the car. My wife and I joke that no matter what I’m working on, it’d probably be easier to get to if I removed the seats first!

I guess all this preventative work will pay off with peace of mind when it’s on the road. There won’t be anything left to replace!
OK rant over. thanks.

I know what you are talking about. Sometimes it seems I was going one step forward, and two backwards

quote Originally posted by Raydar: It's been a while since I did one of those, but I remember that I exercised my vocabulary thoroughly. Embarrassed the wife and scared the dog. If I remember correctly, the AC bracket that bolts to the front of the block has to be unbolted. The belt has to come off, and the whole compressor (I believe) tilted away from the engine, towards the back of the seat. Only then will there be enough room to remove that #@$%!&^ pipe. Of course, there are several smaller things that have to be removed in order to unbolt that bracket. Have fun.

What Raydar said is true. I just did it as well and the engine was out of the car on the cradle and I still had to remove the AC brackets and some other stuff.

quote Originally posted by TONY_C: What Raydar said is true. I just did it as well and the engine was out of the car on the cradle and I still had to remove the AC brackets and some other stuff.

Ya i figured that while lying there staring up at it...I just wanted to double check before I started removing even MORE things.
Hey while I'm there and it’s partially undone, is there a way to “bench check” the AC compressor? I’d hate to have to go through all this BS again but while it almost out what's a couple more steps back???

You might be able to get it out, with the engine in the car, if you remove the ac compressor. With the compressor out of the way,
you would need to raise the car off the a fair bit and then take it out the bottom.

remember these cars are 20+ years old and most of them have not been maintained like they should be. but it will be a thing of pride when you are done.
D.

What others have said, the AC/brackets has to be moved.

Also do yourself a favor, install a stainless steel one or make sure you have it powder coated. I installed a NOS one about 10 years ago, and it will need to be replaced again. I will end up doing it this time with the cradle out of the car (but it also needs a rear seal and some other work).

Cheers,

quote Originally posted by Mickey_Moose: ... I will end up doing it this time with the cradle out of the car (but it also needs a rear seal and some other work).

I have found that if there are more than one or two PITA things that need to be done, that it's usually easier to just go ahead and drop the cradle.
A few years ago, I had a cracked front side exhaust manifold, and a bad TCC solenoid, and a rapidly deteriorating alternator.

I dropped the cradle.

Actually, I briefly suspended the cradle from the parking brake cable that I forgot to disconnect but that's a whole 'nother story.
Ya' learn...

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 04-13-2011).]