My AC unit has a large leak and even if it did work i would rarely use it anyways, so i was wondering how much hp can i free up by taking the whole unit out??? As anyone on here ever done it before?

Thanks

 

I've heard anywhere from 5 to 15. I think it's MUCH closer to (or even LESS than) 5.

Guys that race their vehicles do it all the time. You either have to get an idler pulley to replace the compressor...which never made sense to me, since the compressor pulley already has a clutch on it to keep the compressor from turning when you're not using AC. When you're not using the AC, the pully has very little resistance. Or, you get the front engine bracket for the NON-ac 360 and a shorter accessory belt.

I honestly don't think it's worth it...maybe because I like having AC on those 95 degree summer days.

 

yea like rom said you got two options..permentatly disable the clutch so itll never ingage... or get the setup for a non ac ram 360

 

The AC went out on my 78 blazer and I yanked the compressor and used a shorter drive belt. I was too young to notice any HP gain, but I can tell you that the Compressor weighs a ton on that truck.

 

Wouldn't it be similar to putting power pulleys on the truck... I have heard you can get about 5-10 out of those....

 

yea underdrive pully kits do help add power..but take away from the rest of your accesories... mainly the alternator... im not sure if in the underdrive kit that the alt pully is smaller or bigger..if its smaller then the alt will be spinning fast then stock and would produce more power and lower rpms..but if its bigger itll produce less power at the same rpms... a rating for an alt only produces that rating during higher rpms... ie my 136 amp alt only produces 136amps of power at 1500 rpms or higher..at idle it drops to like 80...something to keep inmind if you go to an underdrive kit on a dailydriver... not to mention your powersteering pump too.

 

NA I had 4 different belts. the stock one plus 3 for the track. With 3pc alum u/d pulleys I could bypass, ac, ac/pwr steering, ac/alt/pwr steering.
The bypass belts would knock around .1 off ets max (my 96 is one of the lightest Rams out there) so as mentioned, dont expect much of an improvement.

 

If it is not working, just diconnect the plug on the back of the compressor. Too easy. Other than a free wheeling pulley it just another 20-30 lbs.
With low freon it will just cycle on and off, or too low just off.

Me I like my A/C. Mine has a small leak, which that now that you remind me, should fix this week while I'm off..