Well, I replaced my third Magnum engine water pump. The third one was easier than the first! The pic shows the stain on the pump housing that I saw when changing my oil. So, I changed it before it started really leaking.
The top bolt cannot be loosened with a socket because of the pully. However, it is a very special bolt with a star center. I only had one star driver in my toolbox from working on GM cars 20 years ago and fortunately it was the correct size. T50. The razorblade holder is the best thing I have found for removing most of the gasket. The angle grinder has a scotchbrite type pad that I used to clean the gasket surface. Regular plyers worked best for me on the small hose clamp as compared to channel locks. The Permatex form-a-gasket is the sticky tar like stuff and i used it to glue the gasket to the timing chain housing so I was free to wiggle the pump into the top hose.
It was about a 7 beer job. If anyone hasn't done one and would like to, I'll try to answer any questions you have.

 

I am getting ready to do mine soon. How long did it take you?

 

What kind of beer?

 

It took me about 5 hours. That includes flushing the coolant system and cleaning up the garage and putting away tools.
I recommend Molson beer. Be careful with the bottles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnJ12...eature=related

 

The hardest part about this job is getting the fan off the pulley. I tried the strap-wrench method around the pulley, but the fan nut was too tight, so I had to improvise a tool out of a piece of flat bar and two 1/4 inch bolts/nuts to hold the pulley. Total PIA if you were brought up on Chevys

 

I was raised in a Chevy family. They still say "what is it with you and your Dodges?" I've had 4 trucks. All the Magnum engine vintage. I usually have 2 at the same time so I can be working on one and driving the other. (Not sure if I said that right, sounds like a f.o.r.d. thing) I usuallly have a high mileage daily driver and a weekend toy hauler.
Anyway, each brand has easy and PITA issues.

 

Wow, when I still did that sort of thing, it took 10, maybe 15 min to change the water pump. That includes draining antifreeze. Granted the first time was about an hour, but if your taking 5 hours to change a water pump and oil, your wasting a good portion of your day.

The star is calleda torx fyi
An angle grinder is inappropriate for cleaning metalic mating surfaces. The proper tool would be a gasket scraper, found at any parts store for about $5

Not to sound like a dick.

 

No kidding about that nut on the fan being a PITA. I ended up buying a $50 wrench that along with the holder that was positioned on the pulley nuts, my half inch breaker bar with another 2ft section of galvanized pipe, i finally broke it lose.

My project took me about 8hrs since I also changed out all the hoses, the water outlet, thermostat, the belt, and flushed the heater core. I didn't change the bypass hose simply becuase some moron engineer decided to put the A/C compressor directly on top of it and after having to pull the alternator to get to the water outlest I didn't feel like dealing with it. I figure the compressor will go before the hose.

All this work, and about $250 in parts my heat is only marginally better. The heater core flushed very easy so I seriously doubt need to replace it.

 

wow. Is yours a dealer stock replacement? I am in the process of tearing my truck down and will be getting a water pump from summit. I hope I don't have to keep replacing them. The stocker I took off looks pretty good actually. Just gonna get a new one and have the $75 it cost and have the insurance for all the other high dollar parts i'm putting in that beast

 

indyramman........if it only took you 10min to change the waterpump,i think kasey kahne is looking for a water pump changer.lol