2002 Intrigue 3.5L - Need to change RCV on compressor

Hi, all. My a/c isn't blowing cold these days and the gf isn't too happy about it. It shows all the signs of a bad RC valve, and I bought the replacement... when I climbed under the car to change it, though, my heart sank. There's the valve, pointing directly at, and only about an inch above the K frame. There's just no room to get it out.
Does anyone here have experience changing the RCV on the 3.5L that can point me at an easy way to do this? Do I have to pull the whole compressor, and is there a way to do that without pulling the alternator and radiator?