I canged my water pump yesterday, and it was the easyest thing I have done to my truck yet. It took longer to drain the antifreeze than to remove pump and put the new one on. The new pump was cheep to, $57 dollars with a life time warenty.

 

yep, i'm still on the original at 214000 miles

 

I had 175k on the origanal pump. All of a sudden of one day there was antifreeze all over under the hood. I had bad thoughts right away but found it to be the water pump leaking ( eazy fix).

 

How about the drive belt?? easy or hard to release the tension??

 

not bad at all I have a SK 1/2" ratchet and it is about 18" to 20" long and it was no prob to release the tension and take belt off. You only have to take it off of the water pump and you can leave it on every thing else.

 

what else was removed? fan & shroud? i have a feelin i may be changing out a pump soon. it's leaking. tightened the mount bolts and it's only drips slightly

does the local auto parts store stock this item?

 

mine just went at 87k! Still under factory warranty though 5yr/100,000 mile....so guess its one less headache that I didnt have to deal with. Still wondering why it went so early though......O well

 

Nothing else has to come off. You can loosen the belt from the top side ( ratchet on the tentioner) pull belt off the pulley take two bolts out of water pump and remove from block. It is really easy. Well don't forget to drain some antifreeze out. I just drained out the radiator. You will need a 5 gal pail for that it will almost fill it up.