Admitting defeat....

[Sysop]

If EVERYTHING else on the truck works well as you say, it's worth the fix. Any "flawless" vehicle, especially a truck, will bring a premium over one that has some little something or another wrong with it. "Flawless" vehicles are well maintained vehicles, that will always draw a premium. Another plus for it, it would be considered very low mileage. I don't think I'd beat my knuckles up with what you've described as the task at hand, but I would surely call around to the various shops that do auto A/C work and get some prices on replacing a locked up compressor and get out the checkbook. You'll get that money back.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I'm from Michigan. Believe it or not the snow melts here annually.

I wouldn't be without A/C in any of my vehicles.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

There is no reason to pull the skid plates , the fan, the radiator , the water pump , I think he my have mistaken the air pump for the a/c compressor which should be on the topside of the engine .

 

[QRTRHRS]

I just sold my 92' F150 XLT, 302, 2x4, Auto, 236k, with the air not working for 1200. Remember, this vehicle had the old freon in it so repairs could get pricey. Other than a few steamy drives on occasion, the biggest issue was the glass fogging up during a rainy day.

I had the air on my 83' Case tractor completely rebuilt. Cost me about a grand or so but it sure was sweet to have the glass fog over during a 95 degree day.

 

[300UGUY]

There is no reason to pull the skid plates , the fan, the radiator , the water pump , I think he my have mistaken the air pump for the a/c compressor which should be on the topside of the engine .

No, it's the compressor. I've done 2 cars, putting in new compressor's. I thought the truck would be easier, but the layout of the engine has the compressor on the lower right hand corner of the engine. The crossmember is almost diectly below, and the frame is just to the right. You have to leave one of the bolts in the compressor when removing or installing it, because there isn't enough room to remove them completely in place. I decided to take it to my local mechanic, let him do it.

 

[300UGUY]

I'd fix it and keep it - but, hey, I like trucks.

Me too. That's why I bought a 2012 Chevy truck!

 

[toppop52]

I've been in Michigan in August 3 times for the Woodward Dream Cruise, I wouldn't want to live there without a/c in my vehicle. If that truck is as clean as the miles would suggest, it has a strong value and likely would add 25-30% to the value to have working a/c. My best friend is a dealer and I can tell you that a major a/c problem just kills the value.
The other things are; locked compressor = no defrost function because the compressor comes on with any setting that has defrost/defog or a/c. If you run it any with it on and it spins at all it is likely going to send metal shavings through the whole system requiring the dryer, orifice tube, any valve in the system, etc... be replaced and the condenser and evaporator at a minimum be flushed.