Hey fellers, my 69 firebird (2 weeks in my possession) came with factory A/C. Am wondering if anybody can give me some assistance on removing it. The shop manual is quite difficult for me to follow.

As background, I have no idea if the A/C works, the belt isn't hooked up, and I suppose I'd be stupified if it did work.

In any case, I'm thinking hard about removing it because accessing the passenger side of the motor is nearly impossible.

This is motivated by the need to do a compression test on this motor since I really don't know anything about it. It seems nearly impossible to access the passenger side plugs with this A/C unit installed.

Thanks for any advice. Would also welcome hearing advice on whether factory A/C is a desirable thing, the chances of it working after god knows how many years of not being spun, etc.

Thanks!

Not what you asked, but with AC, the front right side plugs can be accessed through the wheel well with car raised - through the splash flap. The rear plugs from under the car. Removal and tightening of rear plugs are done with a hex head spark plug socket and open end wrench carefully.

I have never done a compression test so I don't know how the tight clearance works with the compression tester.

The factory A6 compressor and related brackets are just a boat anchor at this point in history and not an efficient compressor to start with if your thinking of getting an AC system back in order.
Good luck on finding any R12

Actually, Jim, that's an answer I needed to hear, so thanks. I'm just trying to do a health check on this motor to see if it's worth keeping around as I ponder the long-term vision of this restoration. I'll give this a try and see if I can get my compression reader on there.

I appreciate this info. I don't see A/C in my near future and it if this unit isn't considered desirable, then that gives me more motivation to remove it. Never having had A/C in any of my old muscle cars, I'm a bit unclear how to go about removing it, but I'll muddle along. I wonder if I'll have access to the rockers and plugs once this bracket and A/C unit is out. That big "plenum" gizmo (if that's the right word) also seems to be a gigantic impediment to that side of the motor. I wonder if that needs to come out as well.

Ah the joys of the unknown. Thanks again!

This big circled gizmo...the word "plenum" comes to my head but I'm probably wrong about that. Wondering if anybody knows if it blocks cyclinders 6 and 8 if I take out the A/C unit but leave that intact.

This might help identify all that stuff.

http://www.teufert.net/partbook/index.htm

Thank you!