I'm installing headers and dual exhaust on my '77 L48 and since it's not very hot here in Maine I want to get the A/C out of the way. Any tips for doing this safely? Mostly want to get the compressor and second radiator out, don't care about the interior. Do I need to remove the compressor, condenser, evaporator and hoses as a unit? Is there enough refrigerant to make this hazardous? Amazingly little online about this job.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

If the system has a charge I would take it to a reputable shop and have it drained if the cost isn't prohibitive. Since R-12 can't be recycled you will have to provide a proper container for it's storage and since it can't be sold or given away you will have to keep it yourself. You can always vent it to the atmosphere though the gov't, highly frowns on such practices and the fines can be rather hefty as well.
Once the system is empty I think you will find it much easier to take it apart piece by piece as it will be a lot less hassle. That's what I did on my 76 though the system was empty when I purchased the car.

 

Eventually you may want to sell your car in the future. A good selling point is, all the A/C parts available. Even if it does not work.

I removed the heavy compressor, brackets & belt. Left the dryer, evaporator and condenser for the next owner.
The rubber lines to the condenser were snipped. So, the next owner has very little to do for return operation of the A/C.

The front header bolt and one Intake bolt will be std sizing now.

 

I removed my system, and couldn't give the parts away. If it is charged, be sure to have it discharged properly. The gas inside is dangerous to you and the environment.

If you still want your stock blower (with or without heat), you can can find the panel from a non-AC car, or at ACDelete.com
https://acdelete.com/pages/68-82_Y-Body.htm

 

Is the A/C currently blowing cold air? If not is the compressor turning on when you move the HVAC to A/C mode? If neither then it's likely the refrigerant has leaked out so there isn't anything to evacuate. So you would be easily able to just unbolt/unconnect the compressor, hoses, and condenser (in front of radiator). The evaporator you can just leave in the HVAC box but plug the lines to keep the evaporator clean.

I'm in NH with a similar climate to where you are and use my Corvette's A/C almost every time I drive it.. Corvettes get hot inside. There are so many threads on this forum about how to make the cabin cooler with or without A/C which supports the idea Corvettes get hot inside. Lots of discussion about heat insulation mods and installing aftermarket A/C in cars that didn't have A/C or have broken factory A/C. It's something about how small the interior is I guess. I leave my garage with a cool interior and minutes into a drive the cabin is stuffy so the A/C gets turned on. There are no HVAC problems in my car so no, the hot coolant is properly shut off and not coming into the cabin. But I get hot easily and don't care to drive with the T-Tops off because of the sun beating down, etc. On your 1977 it should have the R4 compressor which really doesn't take up much room and the hoses aren't much in the way to do service work.

If it's just a blast around town car with tops off you might not care. If you have any intention of driving it regularly you might want to think carefully about removing A/C from your car.

 

This is so annoying.

Stop holding onto parts you don't want for what someone maybe might want in the future. Do whatever you want to your car.

Despite what people keep saying, unless your car is otherwise pristine, no one wants your worn out L48 block just because it's numbers matching, or your old R12 air conditioning, or your original spare tire.

 

Use a small screwdriver to depress one of the shrader valves in the A/C system for a second or two. This will let you know if there's any charge left in the system or if it's long been empty.
Cheers, Greg

 

Yes it is my car and I choose to keep parts that a potential buyer will ask for, such as:

Does it have A/C? Yes & no. Some of it is in boxes.
Does it have Cruise Control? No. I threw it away because bluthundr told me to.

Someday you will not be able to find certain C3 parts that are perfectly good. Not saying to hang on to everything, just worthy parts.
So stop being annoying.