Temporary Removal of A/C Compressor

I think what you are seeing is the condenser coil in front of the radiator.
It's about the same size as the rad.

1. There is a coil ( looks like an oil cooler) in front of the radiator
2. There are lines running from it to the compressor and to the firewall and I to the car
3. Inside the heater box in the car is another coil like the other but smaller (not to be confused with the heater core)
4. There may be other gizmos along the way.
5. Finally there is another hose that runs from the firewall back to the compressor.

Its a closed loop

Gasses in the system move from inside car coil through the compressor to the coil Infront of the radiator through the gizmos, then back to the coil in the car.


As for disconnecting it

Should be no big issue, but you need to protect the insides. Cap with a real plug all openings to hoses, ports etc to reduce the moisture that will enter the system.

There might be a gizmo called the receiver/dryer IIRC it contains a desiccant to hold any moisture that enters the system. If it is exposed to the atmosphere for very long it might become trash.

I'm sure an AC company can advise better on how to remove the components.


Side note:

If a hose has been disconnected for some time the damage has already been done, you got basically nothing to loose to just pull and store.