ok so im trying to get my truck back up to par after some neglect.
im gonna be doing a water pump this weekend, and i bought a double roller setup from o'reillys. any special tips or tricks? anything i should pay attention to, or anything thing else i should replace while im in there?
did a 180 tstat bout a week ago so im good there.

 

when taking the water pump off don't pry on any part of the timing cover. Make sure to get a harmonic balancer puller and be very careful taking it out so you dont have to spend another 75 -100 bucks. Read the procedure for lining up the timing sprockets before taking them off and read installation procedure. Download the 2001 dodge ram service manual on this forum it will help you extensively. Oh and take pictures while your doing it so you can help other people here do the same undertaking. Im doing E-fan mod, Kegger mod, Plenum Plate, Timing chain, and Water pump all at the same time either next weekend or the following :P

Oh and buy gaskets ahead of time, you can always return if you dont use them but they are cheap should be replaced and why make extra trips. Fel Pro is the best IMHO. I got one of there complete engine gasket kits on hand all the time while wrenching :P

 

what gaskets will i need? timing cover and water pump right? or is there more that ill be needing?

 

The bottom of your timing cover is sealed to the oil pan by the oil pan gasket, so be carefull or you will need to take your oil pan off and replace the pan gasket, I just did mine last weekend and I ended up doing the whole pan gasket (its not all that hard really, just took more time) all you should need is the timing cover gasket set which comes with a front crankshaft seal and sleeve (not all kits come with sleeve) and I suggest that you get the waterpump bypass hose as well.

 

t-chain is a walk in the park,,,

only tip is have a 5gallon bucket ready to cacth coolet, becasause a couple of the bolts in the t-chain cover go into the a few water jackets

 

When you go to put it all back together, put all the bolts into the timing cover, (including the water pump bolts, but, not the water pump itself.) snug up the oil pan bolts first. (Just snug, not tight.... Then torque the timing cover bolts (but, not the water pump bolts.....) Torque the oil pan bolts, take out the water pump bolts, and install the water pump.

 

whats the point of putting the water pump bolts on if they're just going to sit there? do i need to drain the oil i didnt know i'd be loosening pan bolts.

 

dont take my ? as rude im just curious

 

its only the 2 front pan bolts only, they thread up into the timing cover, you won't lose any oil if you are parked level.

 

I put 'em in, so that when I tighten down the rest of the bolts, it doesn't misalign itself to the point that you CAN'T get them in when you want to put the water pump on. (don't ask me how I learned this.....)