Removing ac compressor

[roadpaver]

I plan to remove/replace my ac compressor from my '95 Buick LeSabre and it looks inpossible to get it out from all the cross members and other stuff. How does this compressor come out from the car? Does it come out from the bottom where the plastic splash shield is located? Will the two ac lines flex enough to get by them or will I have to remove them from the car? I would like to remove them for cleaning...do they come out from the top of the car with the compressor still installed or removed? One other thing...I see that the top front bolt on the compresor is screwed in from the rear....not the belt side....and it was my plan to remove the fan shroud to better get to it. Is this necessary?
I know, a lot of questions, but hopefully they will get answered because it is getting hot here in Mobile, AL.
Thanks for any help.

[HotZ28]

Well, after evacuating the system, I was fortunate enough to have access to a lift. I also used an air impact to remove the bolts. I did remove the splash shield, but that was all. I first removed the bolt from the hose manifold and moved the hoses down and under the frame rail. Then, I used a two foot extension with a universal impact socket, to remove the bolt from the back. The compressor will come out from the bottom where the splash pan was attached. It did take a little persuasion to get it out, however no more than 1-min. It took several attempts to get the new one back in place, due to the weight of the compressor. That took about three tries and 5-min. I was able to flush the lines without removing the whole manifold assembly. I used a small pressurized cylinder filled with toluene (brake clean) to flush the system & blew it out with nitrogen. It sure is nice to have 40 deg. air coming out of the vents again!!

[roadpaver]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

I used a small pressurized cylinder filled with toluene (brake clean) to flush the system & blew it out with nitrogen. It sure is nice to have 40 deg. air coming out of the vents again!!

I plan to flush with brake cleaner but was wondering how I was gonna do this. You said you used a small pressurized cylinder. May I ask you to describe this more. Was it home brewed or store bought? I have a large air compressor that I was planning to blow every thing out after flushing but you said you used nitrogen. Where can this be purchased?
40 degrees!!!! I know what you are talking about as I had that last summer. My compressor started leaking oil and gas and now it will not hold a charge . Hopefully it will shortly.
Thanks

[HotZ28]

The flush system I have, was at one time a 10 lb. N02 (Nitrous) bottle, rated at 2000 psi. I modified the fittings so I could add liquid to the bottle. I buy the cleaner in 1-gal containers and fill the bottle about 1/2 full with cleaner and then charge the bottle with about 200 psi of nitrogen. I purchase the nitrogen in small bottles at my local welding supply store. I have also seen the nitrogen bottles used for the liquid flush using the same type set-up I made. These are small 2# nitrogen bottles. You have to either pay a deposit or purchase the initial bottle and after that you just pay for the refill. The reason I use nitrogen is to reduce the risk of introducing unnecessary moisture into the system from compressed air. I know it will boil moisture off when under vacuum, but you never know how long to evacuate, or if you got all the moisture. Nitrogen is just cheap insurance!