My hardtop is on a hoist at the aircon shop.
Compressor is kaput, mech thinks the only way to get it out is to drop the engine.

Anyone done this job and can make any helpful suggestions? Please?

NA or turbo?
On my 90 model NA, I had the A/C comp replaced without dropping the engine.

Its turbo

I wouldnt think a Turbo would be any different, 3 bolts thats it . N/A 100% no issues. Just remember to get new o-rings and also depending which gas you are using. Block off the lines if you dont put one in straight away as you dont want moisture in the system

Yep certainly dont need to remove the engine.
What turbo/down pipe set up do you have? that could be the only thing that could cause a problem

take it somewhere else. people remove the stock IC and to do so (according to toyota bgb) you need to unbolt the AC comp and hang itout the way which allows the IC to be removed alot easier, this doesn't require engine removal.
 
 

Is it leaking? I was told mine was kuput by an 'a/c specialist' and they quoted me 1500-1700 to fix it. Took it to my mech and they put 'Leak Guard' in it and regased it for a ****load less. Freezing cold ever since!

Thanks for the replies so far.
 
AFAIK its the stock down pipe.
 
Its definitely leaking, the car was regassed months ago and it lost it all by the next day. The a/c bloke used a dye when he re-gassed it. The only point of leaking was the compressor and he showed me with his ultra violet light where the dye had stained.
 
Is anyone aware of if there are different compressors used by different series of engines?
 
My car is a 1990, but it has a rev2 engine in it.
 
The car is at a local a/c specialist, i'd like to persevere with this bloke so i'll take what you all have said so far to him tomorrow when i wake up. (3.20am after shift here now...)

What stained the actual joints in the lines or the head of the compressor ?
 
Dare say maybe just o-rings . 1990 thats old style gas and the correct o-rings need to be used or has it been converted ?

Yeah it was the head of the compressor. It was covered in the dye from months ago. I could use a used compressor but they are all pretty old now. 
Looks like more money going into this car...