I noticed a burning smell while pulling out of the driveway, I opened the hood and smoke was coming from the middle of the A/C Compressor. Is the truck still driveable to get to a service location? Should I assume the A/C Compressor needs to be replaced, the system evacuated, and or the clutches need to be replaced. This situation is new to me, I have no idea.

 

If you have smoke coming out of the compressor it self then you'll need to replace the compressor.

 

It's not really possible for the AC unit itself to smoke, it was probably the coil pack or the clutch on the front smoking.

Unplug the AC plug at the front to keep it from engaging and start out for a new compressor.
Usually if the clutch is burning up, the compressor is burning up.
They might work, but the system is low on oil.

If your compressor is fried, you should get a new filter dryer and orifice tube.

I should have cut my filter dryer open to check that out when I replaced mine, I dont know why i didn't.

If anyone is curious as to why I'm suggesting this, I'll gladly post the picture of the orifice tube when I pulled it out.

 

The smoke appeared to be coming out of the center of the pulley...

 

Yeah, your magnet probably burned up or the clutch/both did.

The stock system is a single bearing, when they burn up, it pretty much kills the bearing. so its a ticking time-bomb now till it decides to shred itself. I made it about 3 or 4 months before mine went, but I was not driving much either.

A new compressor will come with a clutch on it as well.