How to remove aircon from a 172 and aux belt changes

[JBC27]

Hi

Have just got a 172 with aircon and it doesn't seem to be any colder than the climate control (probably needs regassing) but I am also in need of an Aux belt change in the next 1k miles (cam is ok for another 20/30k) and given the price difference between the cup alternator belt change and the 172 with a/c belt change I'm thinking that whipping the aircon out would potentially save me some wedge and also make the car a little lighter (although i am not contemplating this for power gain reasons and I'm not bothered about having aircon either)

I've found 2 threads which seem to suggest what I'm thinking of but would like some confirmation of a couple of things.

In this thread Wests list the bits to alter your 172 to a cup in respect of the aircon.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?549276-Air-con-removal-kit-172-cup-setup-£330

Am I right in thinking this will mean that once done the aux belt will effectively have been replaced and also that in future I would be able to get cheaper aux and cam belt changes?
Also does anyone know how hard this would be to DIY? I've changed break pads, discs, sparks etc but nothing really technical so I don't want to go buying the parts and find I need a pile of tools or knowledge that I don't have and have to drag the car to a mechanic.

The other thread
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?552996-JMS-Air-Con-Removal-Package-(PH2-RS) is in the traders section by JMS and it might be that I just take the car to them but is this effectively the same thing as the Wests option? Has anyone had it done? and does it result in easier future belt changes?

Basically if I can get rid of the aircon, get the aux belt changed and have cheaper aux and cam belt changes in the future either option seems to be a winner. The alternative being to keep aircon and pay near on £500 for an aux and cam belt change (assuming most specialists suggest changing the cam when you do the aux because it's such a pain to get to the belts in the first place)

Any help appreciated

 

[Sir_Dave]

I had the JMS option done recently, as part of a full freshen up inc. cambelt/aux belt PAS & alternator refresh, was well worth the money!! Both for current driveability & future reduction in aux belt changes. A few words from my project thread:

id put the overall improvement down to a combination of the work done, along with the pièce de résistance, the Pure Motorsport Aircon Delete Kit ...

Not only does it add that little bit of shinyness to an otherwise average engine bay, but yes, it does make a really noticeable difference to the way the car drives. Obviously with all the other work that i've had done to the car, it would be silly to talk about power & speed, etc. But what is noticeable is the improved eagerness to rev & lower inertia of the engine, a blip of the throttle really is a blip now, with it swinging round with an almost 'vtec' like quality.

James said that i would realy notice it the 1st time i heeled & toed, & i did when the revs jumped about 1.5k more than they usually would on a typical 4th to 3rd downshift!

The PMS kit is fantastic basically, well worth the money :approve:

 

[marinemackay2003]

as Sir Dave said the jms/ pure motorsport kit is a really god bit of kit

may be worth traveling to pure motorsport in padstow though as probably is closer to you

changing the aux belt is now a 5 min job

replacment belts are around £15 iirc

 

[JBC27]

cheers for the replys guys. Sounds like a bit of a no brainer then. Sir Dave just read that project thread - awesome