[John Wood]

As a side note, the clutches usually go bad because the compressor front seal seeps refrigerant oil and eventually causes the clutch plates to slip. Once they start slipping, the hub overheats destroying the hub bearing over time.

You can get a complete kit with the clutch plate, pulley, hub bearing, and clutch coil..... but if the front seal has been seeping, your work and investment will be wasted, since the same problem will occur over a few months period. I've been there and done that.

One time I had a hub totally lock up on the Interstate. For the first few moments, I didn't know what was going on as I heard horrible screaching sounds followed by smoke and an acrid burning smell. When I got the hood opened, the clutch hub was cherry red and belt (amazingly not broken yet) was smoking and smelled bad. I simply cut the belt with a knife and went on my way. You couldn't do that on a 3.3/3.8 since there is not a seperate AC belt.

Unless you are dead sure the compressor seal is holding (you have to disassemble to find out), I would replace the entire compressor. Also, avoid 4 Seasons, and Factory Air rebuilt compressors. That is what most chain stores sell and they have a bad reputation.

 

[John Wood]

What engine do you have? You probably can go 2-3 years forward with the same engine. There should be a tag on the old compressor with the model # on it (probably on the end of the unit).

 

[John Wood]

I made the same change on my 91 Sundance which still had the C171 compressor and ran into the same thing when I put in a used 1994 R134a Denso compressor. I had to go back to the junk yard and retrieve a compressor manifold from a R12 1992 vehicle that had the suction port. Your description of the change over is right on the money including the shorter belt requirement.

Actually, there are still a lot of C171 compressors (new and remanufactured) available in the aftermarket. That would be the easiest solution, even though the Denso compressor is a better unit IMHO.

I also should mention that the 1991 model year AP vehicles (Sundance and Shadows) had not switched over to the Denso compressors. That was done in 1992.


To OP:
If you pull up the PDF at this link, it will tell you a lot about your compressor including how to replace the clutch plates:

https://www.google.c...NVFKMEiJQiPtkcQ