AC clutch seized up

The AC clutch on my 91 PA seized up. While crossing an intersection, suddenly a lot of noise and smoke came from under the hood. It seems to me the clutch is warped, and hits the pulley while it is not engaged.
From a previous thread I understand you need special tools to remove the clutch.
I think I better replace the compressor at this moment.
Which brings me to the following questions...

- Does this A/C compressor have a certain name or model I can look for?
- Is it difficult to replace the compressor, unhook the refrigerant lines..?
- In which other PA years and/or other cars has it been used?
- Is there a shorter belt to bypass the AC compressor?

I've checked up on the clutch, but to my suprise it is not seized at all. The plate between the pully and the outer part of the clutch (with the rubber on it, I hope this makes sense) is completely loose. It has about 1 inch of play around the axle of the compressor:eek7:
Also even everything has cooled down there is still a burning smell. :confused:

What could cause such a failure?

I need new seals for the lines at the back of the compressor, but which are the right ones?
Rock auto lists a whole bunch:
4 different under 'O line ring'
1 O ring/gasket kit
2 different under 'A/C compressor seal'
Which is the right one?

None of those may be the right ones! The compressor has one thick, and one thin seal on the back of the compressor. If you look at the Delphi compressor (which comes with seals) you will see two options for the seal & they are a different combination.

It gets complicated! The people at Rockauto don't know which are the right seals.
I thought the seals were of identical size, as can be seen on the 3rd and 5th picture at http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=816062
?

If the depth of the suction and discharge ports are the same as the old compressor, match up the seals to the ones that you removed and you wil be fine. Some of the compressors have been standardized to fit multiple vehicles that use the same compressor, the difference being the hose maniflod block where it bolts to the compressor. Some are stepped, some are flat, etc. That is why they have all these seal combinations to accomodate different hose manifolds. There should be a chart with the seals showing the hose blocks and the seals to use with each block.

Coincidentally I've found a used a/c compressor from another PA that I've picked up.
The guy told me there was still a little bit of pressure in the system when he took it off.
The clearance between clutch and pulley was between 0.40 and 0.50 mm so that's good as well.
It's a Harrison compressor, it looks too new to be almost 20 years old so I suspect it has been replaced at a point. Or did GM use Harrison compressors?
The only thing is, the clutch seems to turn very heavy.
How easily is it supposed to turn?
Would it be worth to charge the system with this compressor?

GM used Harrison. The clutch gap spec is .015" - .025". Sometimes you can't turn even a brand new compressor by hand. Go for it. Replace your orifice tube, it is probably full of metal from your old compressor.

I didn't know or expect that you might not be able to turn a brand new compressor by hand.
The clutch gap on this compressor is around .016" .017". I would have expected it to be more worn. The car this compressor came off had over 180,000 miles.
My PA has "only" 150,000 miles and the clutch gap was over .040" (largest feeler gauge I had..)

I took the a/c compressor off, Haynes and Autzone stated that it can be taken right off but in my opinion it would be impossible without removing at least a fan.

Both are Harrison compressors but they are from 91 and 92. The ports on the compressor are different. On the 91 ports have grooves in which rubber seals go, the 92 does not have the grooves, but rings which have a rubber seal within which go over the tubing in the manifold.

I can't compare the manifolds right now cause I don't have the right wrench to remove the line at the accumulator.
Maybe someone knows? Are the refrigerant lines with manifold the same and is the compressor and seal different or is the manifold with lines different as well?