ALFAGTV6.COM

[Jose I]

How much HP dose the A/C accually rob?

I was going to take the whole system out, but now I wonder if it's a good idea or not, I'm not to worried about the heat of summer , but moer worried about windows fogging my other milano used to fog the windows bad when it rained.
What do you guys think?

[ar4me]

Most 75s in Europe didn't come with AC and handle foggy windows ok. Though, the AC helps I suppose. If it is working I would just leave it on the car, unless you are chasing every single hp, and trying to save weight.
Jes

[Micke]

I read a test a long time ago about this. They tested different cars and AC power consumption was between 5 and 15 hp. In many cars you can feel the power loss when you switch the AC on. Never tried a 75 with AC so cannot comment this case. My GTV '78 had AC when I bought if from germany but I stripped it immediately.

[Mats]

Like Jes says we didn't get a lot of AC cars here in Europe, VERY rare here is Sweden. I live in Rain City and have never had problems with fog.

[ar4me]

Micke has a good point. As long as you don't turn on the AC, it really robs very little power! I can also confirm that I can notice a slight sluggish feel when I turn the AC on in my 75.
Jes

[Zamani]

You can feel the drop in power when the A/C compressor clutch is engaged. My guess is, if you can FEEL it, the drop in power must be at least 5 bhp.

Anyway the A/C from my 75, is.... now in my box of stuff.

I also like the increased accessibility to stuff in the engine bay.

If I do fit the A/C it will be using a very small compressor, like from a Geo Metro/ Nissan Micra kind of a deal with a small condensor. Just enough to keep me from baking in the car. And that is a BIG IF I ever install it again.

[MD]

As usual our requirements in Oz rely on good air con. as the summer humidity will fog up your windows faster than a good work out in the back seat.
Normally, the use of your heater would demist the windows but because it may already be uncomfortably hot and humid, you hardly want to put more heat into the cabin to solve the problem hence the reliance on dehumidification via the air con.
I have customised my original system and use a small Honda compressor mounted on the LH side. It sits directly under the alternator in the first photo. Unfortunately the autofocus went a bit haywire for the close up. I use 134a gas and it works very well. Yes it is barely noticeable as a power drain but if I think I need the extra power during certain times, I just simply turn it off and put it back on when Iam finished. Best of both worlds.

[GTV6GPTT]

who cares…

but when its off how much does a belt and free spinning pulley drag?

on the dyno i have seen around the 5kw range on late 90s cars.

but then again? how much fluid is it pumping, threw what kind of filters and condensers? what brand of compressors is it, how well is the system working, etc


if its that hot, that you need air con. then power shouldn’t be a concern give the poor car a break.

a\c sucks, take it of and suffer the heat with you car

[la_strega_nera]

I depends what sort of compressor you're running aswell. If its a big Yorke reciprocating compressor then it'll suck plenty of power, and ripping it out saves a tonne of weight too. when I pulled the aircon out of my old GTV, I made a point of weighing all the shite that came out. It weighed 25 kg, and dropping that 25kg off the nose of the car made a noticeable difference in the way it behaved.
However, i just pulled the aircon out of a 1995 suzuki swift that I'm parting out, and between its tiny alternator and its tiny aircon compressor, i'm really tempted to use these bits on my car. The little Sandens on modern small cars are tiny and quite efficient... Anyway, you can always wire in a relay to a pressure switch, so at low manifold pressure (ie full throttle) it switches the compressor off.

Oh, and GTV6GPTT, melbourne is hardly the hottest place on earth. If I still had "la strega nera" she'd have aircon now i'm in brizzy, simple cos of the glass house on the GTVs. My Falcon has no aircon and its roasty in traffic with the heat coming through the firewall from the exhaust.... The price you pay for HP i guess.

Ben

[Barry]

FALCON???

[twinspark6]

Falcon is a Ford. At least here in the States. You can still keep a/c and make power. How much do you use it? I have none in my gtv6, but do have it on the other cars. Rarely use it.

[la_strega_nera]

FALCON???

Think of a 1971 Ford Fairmont GT Barry, they got called a Fairmont over in SA, but were actually a Falcon from Aus.

We get warmer than 30 degrees year round here, about 37 with 70+% humidty is a normal summers day.

[Barry]

My comment went way over your heads here.....

Ben,It was a tongue in cheek comment mate..nice car ......*cough cough*

[matt]

hehe

Here s a pick of a FORD FALCON for those that haven't seen one its marked with a red arrow

seems to be in good company, Ford meteor, Mitsubishi Sigma wagon

[Barry]

Oh gees,Mat,Ben is going to go back to the woodworking forum if we are not carefull...good shit...