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I just changed mine a few months ago. I wound up buying a rebuilt compressor with clutch because the clutch was around $70 and the comp w/clutch was $99. I bought a puller/installer on Ebay (Snap On) for $50. I wanted one anyway so it gave me a reason to buy it.
My system still has R-12 and was OK so I did not want to bust it open. I used the puller to remove the clutch from the new comp, took about 5 minutes.
I then unbolted the comp on the truck to move it back some so I could access the clutch with the puller. I pulled the old one off and it was cooked. You need the tool to install the new one and need to set the air gap. Very simple and whole process took me about 90 minutes with beer breaks.
Installing the clutch, go slow and use a feeler guage to set the gap between the clutch and comp. I believe I got it to about 15 thousand or so and it was uniform all the way around. You want it as close as you can get it. If you go too far, just reverse and pull it back up a bit and then install again.
Trust me, it is not hard to do and I personally think it beats opening a perfectly good sealed system which means vacum and the whole thing. If you open, be sure to change the drier as well.
Plus, I have a rebuilt comp that I can sell for maybe $50 or so or just keep for a spare.
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