Question is: Does running the thing without any freon in the system
harm the
compressor?
It would, except there's a pressure safety switch to prevent this.
A York compressor will tolerate it just fine, early systems using
that compressor don't have the switch. York compressors make fine
on-board air compressors, because they have an oil-filled crankcase.
Also: How much benefit do y'all think I'd get from removing the A/C
belt (in
terms of fuel mileage and power)?
Negligible. You could probably double the effect by entirely removing
the thing so as to save carrying the extra weight around. Model this
by carrying a sandbag in the trunk to see how much your mileage and
acceleration suffers.
-- Jim
