• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Weight Loss... heater, blower motor, Evaporater

  • Thread starter Thread starter bhuff30
  • Start date Start date Feb 11, 2009

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Feb 11, 2009
#1
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #1
I'm looking to loose some weight on the '88 without making it look striped down. I want it to appear on first glance as if I still have a full interior and a basically stock car.
Long ago, I yanked out the AC compressor, condensor and lines. I'm thinking it is time to remove the rest of the HVAC. If I remove the blower motor, ducting, condensor and heater, will the dash still properly fit and not rattle around? What else can I remove from behind the dash that no one will notice is gone?
I don't usually drive the car in the winter, so I doubt I'll miss the heat, and if it's hot, I can open the windows and sunroof.
So how much do each of these pieces weigh? Seems like it could be a substantial weight savings.
What else can be shed without making the car look stripped down? I already removed quite a bit of sound deadening from underneath the carpet, along with the spare tire.
 

parrish5o

New Member
Dec 22, 2008
2
0
0
Dirty South
Feb 11, 2009
#2
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #2
Not sure exactly how much the blower motor, evaprator and heater weighs but every bit helps. I believe every 100lbs=10hp and .1 sec through the 1/4. No one would notice the sway bar missing but that made mine scary at highway speed so I put it right back on after I removed it. A set of draglites would remove a little bit of weight and don't forget swapping the driveshaft and anything else you can afford with aluminum.
 

90lxcoupe

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 7, 2003
3,596
350
134
Feb 11, 2009
#3
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #3
the p/s system is heavy and also robs alot of power, ive heard of guys gaining 3 tenths with a short belt alone, that would be an 11 second time slip for you...
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Feb 11, 2009
#4
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #4
Dang, 3 tenths from a shorter belt? That is rediculous. I know the PS is heavy, but I didn't think it robbed that much power too. I'll have to see if I can figure out a way to run a shorter belt.

I've already removed the sway bars, and it wasn't too scary for me. The 2.3 might be a bit lighter though.

90lxcoupe said:
the p/s system is heavy and also robs alot of power, ive heard of guys gaining 3 tenths with a short belt alone, that would be an 11 second time slip for you...
Click to expand...
 

Cobra912

Active Member
May 1, 2005
1,777
11
39
Wish I was anywhere but here
Feb 11, 2009
#5
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #5
I'm running draglite skinnys and no sway bar with drag only springs on the highway = no problems!
 

ID89GT

10 Year Member
May 26, 2008
1,659
18
49
Spokane Valley, WA
Feb 11, 2009
#6
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #6
You could pour some slim fast down the gas fill nozzle. That will help loose some weight Haha jk, you could go tubular suspension stuff, would probably help quite a bit
 

parrish5o

New Member
Dec 22, 2008
2
0
0
Dirty South
Feb 11, 2009
#7
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #7
Can you really pick up .3 by removing the ps pump. You've got me thinking about deleting mine now. I run 245/45/17s in front on the street when I don't have my slicks/skinnys on. I bet they would be a bi**h to turn with manual steering.
 

Coast2CoaStang

Member
Aug 11, 2008
254
4
19
Feb 12, 2009
#8
  • Feb 12, 2009
  • #8
You could shed a couple pounds with a console armrest delete.

87-93 CONSOLE ARMREST DELETE, BLACK MUSTANG
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Feb 12, 2009
#9
  • Feb 12, 2009
  • #9
Swap out the stock K-Member for a nice tubular model. No need to give up the creature comforts and you'll lose more weight than all of them combined.

Relocate the battery to the trunk is another nice touch.....
Aluminum drive shaft....
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Feb 12, 2009
#10
  • Feb 12, 2009
  • #10
Those are all great suggestions, but I was looking at removing the heater and blower motor because it is FREE. An aftermarket K-member and tubular supension is quite a bit expensive, and if I added an ford racing aluminum driveshaft, it would become the single most expensive part on my car, beating the nitto drag radials at 150$ each. And I like the look of 17s all around instead of skinnys. Skinny would be a dead giveaway that my car meant business.

So probably, I will look into a shorter belt, yank the HVAC stuff since it doesn't really get used anyway, and try putting the aerostar aluminum driveshaft on again.
 

90lxcoupe

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 7, 2003
3,596
350
134
Feb 12, 2009
#11
  • Feb 12, 2009
  • #11
parrish5o said:
Can you really pick up .3 by removing the ps pump. You've got me thinking about deleting mine now. I run 245/45/17s in front on the street when I don't have my slicks/skinnys on. I bet they would be a bi**h to turn with manual steering.
Click to expand...

The steering isnt as bad as you would think, its actually pretty easy, when your stopped it takes a little muscle, but once you get going i actually like it better without the ps, cause you really get a better feel for what the car is doing.

I searched on the corral, and there were a few guys claiming 3 tenths, and it makes sense, that pump is working pretty hard even at idle, plust its a good 40 lbs at least off the nose of the car, where it counts
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Feb 12, 2009
#12
  • Feb 12, 2009
  • #12
bhuff30 said:
Those are all great suggestions, but I was looking at removing the heater and blower motor because it is FREE.
Click to expand...

I realize you said you rarely drive the car in the winter, so the heater and blower motor isn't a concern, but do you ever drive it in the rain, or park it outdoors? That early morning dew and thick rainy condensation ONLY comes off with a little heat from the defroster. You'll drive 40-min with your windows down just to see through your windshield otherwise.

Unless you plan on designating your car to track only duty, trust me when I tell you....its a bad idea...free or not.
 

90lxcoupe

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 7, 2003
3,596
350
134
Feb 13, 2009
#13
  • Feb 13, 2009
  • #13
Gearbanger 101 said:
I realize you said you rarely drive the car in the winter, so the heater and blower motor isn't a concern, but do you ever drive it in the rain, or park it outdoors? That early morning dew and thick rainy condensation ONLY comes off with a little heat from the defroster. You'll drive 40-min with your windows down just to see through your windshield otherwise.

Unless you plan on designating your car to track only duty, trust me when I tell you....its a bad idea...free or not.
Click to expand...

+1, i didnt delete my HVAC system, but my heater core does leak, so i bypassed it, and the windows do fog up, and it sucks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Progress Thread Weight loss 90s coupe . -500lbs
  • ponixpress
  • Mar 14, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
42
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Oct 13, 2025
ponixpress
P
M
Progress Thread mnky99 2001 V6 evap core, ac compressor, heater core replacement
  • mnky99
  • Sep 5, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
517
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Sep 5, 2025
mnky99
M
F
Electrical From scratch: alternator wiring
  • fox racer v2
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
581
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 23, 2025
fox racer v2
F
M
2001 v6 heater hose quick connect question
  • mnky99
  • Sep 24, 2025
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
594
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Sep 26, 2025
mnky99
M
M
2001 v6 heater return pipe leak question
  • mnky99
  • Nov 11, 2025
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
254
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Nov 11, 2025
mnky99
M
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?