noticed today I had a decent sized coolant leak dripping off the bottom of the timing chain cover. then i noticed that my thermostat bolts had backed almost all the way out, I tighted them up and it seemed to slow the leak alot but then it came back as a slow drip which i chased to the weep hole, im gonna order a pump online from rockauto and change her out this weekend, i plan on doing the thermostat while im in there just because the coolant will cost more then the water pump and i dont want to have to drain it again, im wondering is there anything else i should do while i have it apart

 

I rec refreshing the cooling system. Drain the radiator, then remove the lower radiator hose to drain the block.
Remove the thermostat and blow air into the thermostat housing to get the remaining coolant out.
Disconnect both hoses going to your heater core, then flush the core with a hose.
Then replace upper and lower rad hoses and thermostat, then refill with new coolant.
For installing the water pump, keep track of what bolt goes into what hole. They are different lengths but same thread.
Use a torque wrench to get a good seal on the water pump.

 

When doing the thermostat, that's a given on the 4.7. If you're going to disconnect the heater hoses, don't do it at the firewall. The inlet pipes are very malleable there.

I can recommend this GMB water pump, which I installed back in 2018. It's easy on the pocket, yet good quality and has all metal impeller. GMB is a good bearings maker first and foremost and that's the thing that usually goes bad.

Maybe now is a good time to change the serpentine belt? Make sure you mix any coolant concentrate with distilled water. To bleed cooling system, don't fill to the very top initially. Leave like a quart or two low, turn heater to hot and jack front end high. Run without radiator cap (or open bleed screw) till engine is hot and bubbles stop coming. Oh and check to make sure your electric fan is working before you start the job. If not, that would be a good thing to replace, while you're there (assuming the Rams have one. I'm a Dakota guy.)

See #3 here on how to regrease your pulleys....
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ic-losses.html