... and charge a bazillion dollars for any truck with a cummins. I have always wanted one but they were 30-40k when ours were new, now they're still that used with 300k on them and completely junk truck around them. It's just ridiculous. Talk about priced out of a market. I never knew that in my lifetime a four wheel pickup would cost 100k. Shoot, I make barely half that. Well, here's to my old half-ton pushrod manual trans crank window beauty. May she last another quarter mil.

 

I haven't heard about that yet. That's no good. I'm happy i've got an 05 cummins which I think is the best year for 3rd gen. Wish my gasser water pump was as quick and easy to change as the cummins is. Get the belt loose, two bolts and it's off. I'm anticipating about a 6 pack of beer for the gasser water pump fix.

 

Come up here if you want one I could get you a running Cummins second gen 6spd for about $400-$2500
It can be that simple. When I did mine on the side of the road I just took the belt off 6-8 bolts (can't remember exactly) and then bam back on. My advice change all the factory style hose clamps to the ones that use a screw

 

2001 with 170k miles. I am on my third water pump replacement. Original lasted about 60k miles. The first one don't know what brand was used by the shop that replaced it. The second one, replaced at about 100k miles, was from Advanced, probably with lifetime warranty, the same shop replaced it. The third replacement, replaced at about 140k miles, i did myself and got it from the dealer hoping it would last longer. So far so good.

 

I used to go through pumps pretty often too. I think it's the mechanical fan taking the toll on the pump bearing. I switched to TCP electric fan set up and haven't replaced a pump since. I also switched to a GMB North America high flow water pump (summit racing) around the same time. So maybe it is the pump is better built then the typical auto parts store pump?

 

I believe it's all on if the guy/women put pride into their work that day or were in a rush

 

Not a bad thought. If the fan clutch is as old as the pump, good idea to replace it at the same time. Along with pulleys and belt.

 

Yeah I was thinking about that too. I was surprised at how cheap they were when I looked. Good insurance if I've already got it out.

Got the gates pump yesterday. Should I need to tighten or seal the threads on the bypass hose fitting on the pump at all? I don't remember doing anything with that last time.

What's everybody's opinion on RTV on both sides of the pump gasket? I believe I put RTV on both sides when I put this one on last time for extra insurance, but if it's not necessary then I won't make the mess.

 

For the threads, some teflon tape wouldn't be a bad idea, but, isn't absolutely necessary. Just peace of mind.

I put a thin coat of RTV on both sides of the gasket, both to help it seal, and to hold it in place during assembly. Bolt threads get some too.

 

thin coat of rtv on both sides of the gasket too. plus a little rtv around the heads of the bolts that pierce into the water ports.

I believe autozone has/had lifetime warranty on the fan clutch. I used to swap it out every time the pump failed. Though i think it is more to do with the weight and leverage of the fan itself wearing on the pump bearing.