AC clutch grinding. May seize. Can't afford new AC or clutch rebuild.
Asking community, what if I use a Disk grinder and just cut off as much
of the clutch plate as possible, not cutting the bolt.
I don't need the AC, just want to run car without risk...
Any thought on this radical approach of mine, not found anywhere
on internet search???
On 2000 buick century with only 60k miles

Its not really going to grind to a halt. Its just that the spacing between the plates has increased. This is common.
You have 2 choices. Let it continue, or remove the compressor and get an A/C compressor delete pulley. Basically, you remove the compressor and install a pulley/bracket in its place. Voila, no more compressor.

......what about shimming the clutch plate out.....away from the clutch pulley.......maybe 1/8th of an inch or a little more.

You can also adjust the airgap on the compressor. If the clutch is shot, you can also replace just the clutch, and leave it unplugged. Its usually only necessary if the clutch gets fried however.

Thanks Mike, but it makes an awful noise. Lots of metal filings. Lots of internet
searches suggest this may lead to a seizing up wherein the belt will snap.
Also, I don't want to remove the compressor. Too difficult, too tight a space.
I already force a bunch of hi-temp grease into between clutch and compressor,
which has reduced noise substantially.
Plan to sell car, without air, and don't want buyer to have to deal with the noise.
Clarifying my question, will cutting all but the center of the clutch plate off
reduce the grinding wailing noise to almost nil??

Thanks, tony. I thought about doing that with a crow bar, just wedge/bend it out
all around, forming a cup shape away from compressor.
Just wondering if anyone actually done that and that it did work, as that would
actually be easier than using a cutting disk.

If you want to cut off a section of the clutch plate, it will be easy if you simply remove the bolt in the center of the clutch plate and pry the plate off of the clutch then cut whatever area you want, then reinstall the center section onto the clutch.