Just picked up a '96ram 2500 conversion with 5.9l engine. Van is in really good shape but the a/c doesn't work. seller said he would hear grinding noise in compressor. Also said when you try to turn a/c on, a 20amp fuse would blow and van wont start till fuse is replaced. What are your thoughts?

 

try rockauto.com for a new compressor and associated parts
their prices are usually hard to beat

 

This should never happen. Sounds to me like the a/c clutch or blower motor wiring burned up and they rewired it into another circuit. Fuel pump relay would be my guess. Regardless, the circuit they tapped into is one required by the engine or computer and it can't handle that additional load so it blows every time.

The a/c compressor or compressor clutch may indeed be bad but I think you'll need to find and diagnose this wiring issue first.