AC should not make a 454 feel gutless without getting on it

[brycebba]

This is kind of a rant but who knows, maybe my truck has a problem. Since it has gotten hot and I'm using my AC it is shocking how gutless it makes the truck under normal throttle. I have a tuned 454 with 4.10 gears and I probably have to apply 20 percent throttle or more to get the same level of performance as when the AC is not on. How dumb is that. I would hate to be pulling anything with weight while the AC is on.

Now for the question... Why does the AC on these trucks rob so much power compared to other vehicles? It seems pretty ridiculous.

 

[someotherguy]

Compressor may be going bad or system is overcharged.

Richard

 

[88GMCtruck]

I don't have that problem in mine....

 

[brycebba]

Hmmmm, I guess I didn't think about that. I'm going to check the level today. How would I know if the compressor is going bad?

 

[brycebba]

I don't have that problem in mine....

That probably because you know what you are doing haha

 

[someotherguy]

Somewhere you might find the specs on how many lb/ft it should take to turn the compressor over. Maybe in the service manual (I've never looked for it) or possibly on the forums at ACkits' site. Tread lightly as those guys can be a little snippy.

I haven't had to search the info out myself because when I had a compressor going bad that was dragging the engine down, it was so bad it was obvious. There should be resistance, it's a compressor after all...but it shouldn't take massive force to turn it.

Richard

 

[90halfton]

With my stock 350 and 3.42's I cant tell a difference at all with the ac on, pulling anything or not. Its gutless under any circumstances lol.

 

[brycebba]

With my stock 350 and 3.42's I cant tell a difference at all with the ac on, pulling anything or not. Its gutless under any circumstances lol.

Hahaha, well played

 

[RyanMerrick]

No issues like that with my 350. There has to be something going on...

 

[HeavyChevy99]

This is kind of a rant but who knows, maybe my truck has a problem. Since it has gotten hot and I'm using my AC it is shocking how gutless it makes the truck under normal throttle. I have a tuned 454 with 4.10 gears and I probably have to apply 20 percent throttle or more to get the same level of performance as when the AC is not on. How dumb is that. I would hate to be pulling anything with weight while the AC is on.

Now for the question... Why does the AC on these trucks rob so much power compared to other vehicles? It seems pretty ridiculous.

Also, What year model? Some of the later (98-99) ECM's have A/C factoring built into the TQ Management system.
I agree, look at the compressor first, but a/c compensation can be adjusted to be virtually seemless.