haznavy

Has anyone ever removed the rear blower unit from the Express 3500 15-pax van? I cannot see the AC lines but, have read that they are routed between the unit and floor out of site; I assume the unit needs to be professionally discharged? I would really like it gone to take greater advantage of the gained cargo space in order to install a DECKED type cargo system. Or, would it be easier to leave well enough alone and install something else to manage cargo and create a sleeping platform?

Tag from unit




Rear 32,580 Btu/hr heater and 27,000 Btu/hr evaporator core/blower

mountainmanjoe

Yes, the AC system needs to be discharged, and the coolant drained out. You also have to deal with some rusted out studs and nuts on the bottom of the vehicle, which like to strip out and spin. Lots of fun.

Looks like somebody McGyver'd in some dryer duct haha

haznavy

Sounds like a huge PITA and $$$$; maybe I'll leave well enough alone and build around it.

dberladyn

How much are you losing ?
A square foot from the floor to the roof ?

I am fussy. I like things balanced from left to right on the vehicle. I like straight lines. I think I would keep it though. I mean, it's good to have the ability to heat and cool in the rear. No ?

Maybe you only have Rear Heat and not Rear A/C ?

haznavy

I too like symmetry and would love to be able to throw in a prefabbed storage/sleeping deck like the DECKED system. For versatility sake, yes, I do like the idea of heat back there. I can't see any AC lines but, that doesn't mean anything.

mountainmanjoe

The metal lines are really easy to see. Just duck under the van, directly below the unit. Black rubber lines ones are coolant.

In my opinion the blower doesn't take a great deal of space. Most of the bulk is down at floor level. Shouldn't be difficult to build around/above it.

dberladyn

There is this After Market Unit. It looks smaller. You could move it?







G-Series and E-Series Van HVAC Rear Heat and Air Conditioning Unit by Havis - Fleet Safety

dberladyn

Do they not run underneath? From the photo on this page, I think I can just barely see them. No disconnects there?

https://gm.oemdtc.com/6906/31170-01-...ess-gmc-savana

mountainmanjoe

The refrigerant tubes? Yes. Like I said, they run underneath the van body. You have to drain the system, and unbolt them. Then recharge the system when you reinstall it.

StanVan

I just built around mine. Hit the link in my sig line.