General Panda 100hp air con delete

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General Panda 100hp air con delete

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Hi I've got a 100hp and want to remove the air con to simple things up and remove a bit of weight! Does any body no what parts or belt set up I would need, any help much appreciated.

You should fit the 1.2, it's much lighter than that horrible boat anchor 1.4.....
 
Also, when it comes to selling your car this will be a major negative, if the parts are stored in a shed or garage for any period of time they will be scrap. You aren't going to notice losing the weight and the car will be hot in the summer and fog up in the winter.....
 
Unless you're stripping the car out so that it becomes purely for track use, you're going to ruin a perfectly good little car.

If you're not turning it into a pure track vehicle, the resale value will fall through the floor, that's if you can even find anyone to buy it. As has been mentioned above, you won't notice the weight saving and your car will be considerably less pleasant to use on a day to day basis, in both hot and cold weather.

If you do remove the air-con unit and still wish to use the car on the road, remember to tell the insurance company. I'm sure they'd love to know why you're going to such extreme lengths for road use...

If you really want to spend money on going faster, driver training would be much more effective than ripping out your car's air-con system to save weight. Also, you don't have to declare it to the insurance company, it can be applied to any future cars you own at no extra cost and it's applicable on both tracks and your favourite B-road.
 
Unless you're stripping the car out so that it becomes purely for track use, you're going to ruin a perfectly good little car.

If you're not turning it into a pure track vehicle, the resale value will fall through the floor, that's if you can even find anyone to buy it. As has been mentioned above, you won't notice the weight saving and your car will be considerably less pleasant to use on a day to day basis, in both hot and cold weather.

If you do remove the air-con unit and still wish to use the car on the road, remember to tell the insurance company. I'm sure they'd love to know why you're going to such extreme lengths for road use...

If you really want to spend money on going faster, driver training would be much more effective than ripping out your car's air-con system to save weight. Also, you don't have to declare it to the insurance company, it can be applied to any future cars you own at no extra cost and it's applicable on both tracks and your favourite B-road.

I didn't ask for the down falls of removing the air con I asked if anyone new what was needed to remove it! And as for driver training I think I'm ok thanks I've been going to the nurburgring and spa for the last 6 years and have done about 20 track days in England in my 341 bhp Courtenay sprint astra vxr!
 
I didn't ask for the down falls of removing the air con I asked if anyone new what was needed to remove it! And as for driver training I think I'm ok thanks I've been going to the nurburgring and spa for the last 6 years and have done about 20 track days in England in my 341 bhp Courtenay sprint astra vxr!



As someone said above unless you're stripping it to be a serious all out track day car then there is little point, if that is your plan leave the aircon till last,

You will need to pay to have the gas discharged professionally as it's an offence to release refrigerant gas into the atmosphere.

You can then remove the compressor dryer, pipes and condenser, the compressor being the heaviest part at around 2-3kg with the rest of the parts might you might save 5kg total (aircon parts are mostly alloy so weigh naff all) you may also need specialist tools to get connections and pipes apart.

You can also strip out the dash if required to remove the evaporator which might save another 1kg but will leave you with holes in the bulkhead to address.

So you could drop a total of 6ish-Kg which is under a stone in total weight. Probably less than the total weight of spare wheel and tools as a comparison.

Once removed and left for any length of time as pointed out the parts are scrap unless you can find/buy caps for all the pipes and connections also worth noting the system takes nothing from the engine when not in use.
Removal of the compressor will mean a new aux belt from a 16v without aircon

Yes you can do it you will instantly knock £1000 off the value of the car but I suspect you're not worried about this. And if all you did was remove the aircon with no other lightening done anywhere else you will see no difference in speed or handling (beyond the placebo effect)

This is why people are giving the replies they are. If you already have a fast car then why spoil the panda is in my view a good question.
 
Look guys I'm not wanting to get in to a debate on why you think I should or shouldn't remove the air con, and the legality of removing the gas or telling my insurance about it I was just asking if any one had the knowledge on what was needed to remove it ie alternator/ tentioner set up!! Any help much appreciated.
 
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Dont u wrry bout da jealus wnkrz on dis sight, dey kno nuffin. Ur panda will b well mint wiv out da aircon rubbish.

Ur astra soonds well wikkid.

Maxi is rite tho, I fink u shud swap the 1.4 for da 1.2.
 
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Dont u wrry bout da jealus wnkrz on dis sight, dey kno nuffin. Ur panda will b well mint wiv out da aircon rubbish.

Ur astra soonds well wikkid.

Maxi is rite tho, I fink u shud swap the 1.4 for da 1.2.

Are you a retard? And yes my astra is an absolute beast thanks! But why are you trying to be a smart arse? I've put the post up for help not reasons against what I want to do or for you to reply talking like a chav!!
 
Hello,

I don't think anyone from here will be able to help as such as you'll be the first person to do it. I would look at how the engine is setup in any other cars its used where AC is an option. Punto?, im unsure if its the same

The others do make a valid point though. The LMP1 le mans cars have Air con Im guessing they found other ways to reduce weight. If you don't switch it on you're not losing any horses & the weight difference will be like running with or without screen washer fluid.

It sounds like you're up for making a pretty extreme build which is cool. Good luck with it.
 
Look guys I'm not wanting to get in to a debate on why you think I should or shouldn't remove the air con, and the legality of removing the gas or telling my insurance about it I was just asking if any one had the knowledge on what was needed to remove it ie alternator/ tentioner set up!! Any help much appreciated.


Try reading the post before you respond like a Prat and also calling people 'retards' isn't going to get you very far.

If what you want is a step by step guide then you shouldn't be doing it full stop,

I have done a pretty detailed explanation of what you need to do.

Take off belt unbolt various components fit new shorter belt, it's not rocket science, tentioners are automatic as they have been on most cars for the last 20years.
Aside from the legalities of releasing refrigerant gas, there is also the very high possibility of serious injury or asphyxiation from the gas, which is another reason for having it degassed properly, I essentially told you what was needed including special tools to separate aircon pipes, I'm sure you'll do what you want, I suggest perhaps the best corse of action for you is to hit it with a rock and see how you get on seems to be your level
 
I didn't ask for the down falls of removing the air con I asked if anyone new what was needed to remove it! And as for driver training I think I'm ok thanks I've been going to the nurburgring and spa for the last 6 years and have done about 20 track days in England in my 341 bhp Courtenay sprint astra vxr!

Are you a retard? And yes my astra is an absolute beast thanks! But why are you trying to be a smart arse? I've put the post up for help not reasons against what I want to do or for you to reply talking like a chav!!
Adrian (can I call you that?), you haven't taken your astra on track (or at least that's what you said in your advert (which you seem to have sold it off the back of) here: http://www.vxronline.co.uk/forum/archive/index.php/t-230432.html?) . It also doesn't have 341hp (at least, according to Courtenay themselves (and you, actually) who quote around 50-55hp on top of about 235hp (allegedly) quoted by VX, with several people claiming problems making much over 220hp as standard). Friendly dynos FTW!

The problem is with these sorts of threads, they go one of two ways.

First way- enthusiastic youngster types. They quickly realise that their ideas, whilst well meaning, are a little bit silly and lots of people with a little bit more knowledge and experience talk them out of it.

Second (your) way- Post a silly question and expect the old "well wikkid idea m8, here's how to do it" circle jerk. Get arsey when people with more knowledge point out flaws/problems. Post irrelevant "I've had car x that had slightly-unbelievable-hp" (I have to admit, I was surprised to see you've actually had one...) and "I've done loads of track day, I'm an expert" type of stuff, bordering on narcissism.

Anyway, do whatever you want, but considering you've gone from highly tuned astra that you allegedly sunk 25 grand into, to selling off odd bits (nice alloys and calipers), to considering doing silly modifications to an old FIAT panda you might take heed of the advice here.

Also, surely it wasn't rocket science to work out I was taking the **** back there was it? Does anyone really speak like that?

PS: Don't throw stones in glass houses.
 
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Are you a retard?

Takes one to know one doesn't it?

TBH you're asking for advise on a public forum, so you'll get info you want / need and info you don't want / need. Perhaps even info you need that you didn't know you'd want / need.

So don't start attacking other members telling them what information you want / need when you're asking because you obviously don't know! (y)
 
Try reading the post before you respond like a Prat and also calling people 'retards' isn't going to get you very far.

If what you want is a step by step guide then you shouldn't be doing it full stop,

I have done a pretty detailed explanation of what you need to do.

Take off belt unbolt various components fit new shorter belt, it's not rocket science, tentioners are automatic as they have been on most cars for the last 20years.
Aside from the legalities of releasing refrigerant gas, there is also the very high possibility of serious injury or asphyxiation from the gas, which is another reason for having it degassed properly, I essentially told you what was needed including special tools to separate aircon pipes, I'm sure you'll do what you want, I suggest perhaps the best corse of action for you is to hit it with a rock and see how you get on seems to be your level

It's not as easy as that or I would of done it! By the looks it will need a different tentioner set up that's why I asked if anyone new.
 
Adrian (can I call you that?), you haven't taken your astra on track (or at least that's what you said in your advert (which you seem to have sold it off the back of) here: http://www.vxronline.co.uk/forum/archive/index.php/t-230432.html?) . It also doesn't have 341hp (at least, according to Courtenay themselves (and you, actually) who quote around 50-55hp on top of about 235hp (allegedly) quoted by VX, with several people claiming problems making much over 220hp as standard). Friendly dynos FTW!

The problem is with these sorts of threads, they go one of two ways.

First way- enthusiastic youngster types. They quickly realise that their ideas, whilst well meaning, are a little bit silly and lots of people with a little bit more knowledge and experience talk them out of it.

Second (your) way- Post a silly question and expect the old "well wikkid idea m8, here's how to do it" circle jerk. Get arsey when people with more knowledge point out flaws/problems. Post irrelevant "I've had car x that had slightly-unbelievable-hp" (I have to admit, I was surprised to see you've actually had one...) and "I've done loads of track day, I'm an expert" type of stuff, bordering on narcissism.

Anyway, do whatever you want, but considering you've gone from highly tuned astra that you allegedly sunk 25 grand into, to selling off odd bits (nice alloys and calipers), to considering doing silly modifications to an old FIAT panda you might take heed of the advice here.

Also, surely it wasn't rocket science to work out I was taking the **** back there was it? Does anyone really speak like that?

PS: Don't throw stones in glass houses.

Call me suzie if it makes you feel better, if you dig a bit deeper you will find I never sold the car and it's now stage 4 so if you want me to upload the dyno results no problem! The panda is 2010 so not that old really.
 
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