soo, starts up, dies with ANY load

Even the AC compressor.

A little job im getting through the friend of a friend, so i dont know too many details. heres what i got.

1988-89 4.0 laredo, battery/alt good, new cps. Starts and runs fine, dies when AC compressor is turned on or put in drive. If you put ANY load on the motor, it will die.

I'm thinking something blocking fuel/air or its not getting enough to stay above idle?

sounds like fuel delivery to me. do a simple pressure check on the fuel system or change out the fuel and/or air filter

Could be two separate issues.

Bad a/c clutch can stall the engine. Had to cut an a/c belt on my Bronco to get home from a hunting trip, kept intermittently locking up, a/c off, and stalling.

Pull your belt, put it in drive and see what happens.

my dads 88 manche' did the same thing.. i replaced the idle air control valve and it quit.. maybe coincidental..