97 Ram Van 2500 Water Pump. Anyone?!
Grand Champion
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 721
From: S.W. Indiana
oh so the chain is behind the water pump. I’ll have to do it another time because just getting the tools and parts for this put my already small bank account to 0. But I know how to get everything out of the way to get to the water pump now.
It’s a 1997 2500 with 114k on the engine and its running the v6 motor. The thermostat was replaced shortly before I bought it but I couldn’t tell you what kind they put into it.
thank you so much for all of this information that, eventually, I’ll understand. Now that you’ve brought it to my attention, I’ll definitely be going back to change out the timing chain. It’ll probably be in the winter when I’ve got my Ranger on the road or in the spring when it’s warmer but I’d love to get this whole front end repaired to new parts in time!
It’s a 1997 2500 with 114k on the engine and its running the v6 motor. The thermostat was replaced shortly before I bought it but I couldn’t tell you what kind they put into it.
thank you so much for all of this information that, eventually, I’ll understand. Now that you’ve brought it to my attention, I’ll definitely be going back to change out the timing chain. It’ll probably be in the winter when I’ve got my Ranger on the road or in the spring when it’s warmer but I’d love to get this whole front end repaired to new parts in time!
Somehow I expected a 2500 to have a V8. The V6 will actually have a little more room to work on the engine because the block is shorter. Autozone rents tools that you will need like a balancer puller. Basically, you buy it and they give you a refund when you take it back. O'Reilly's sort of rents tools but, at least the store by me, you only have 48 hours or you have bought it. At 114K, your chain will have some wear and stretch but unless it's had really bad maintenance it has a lot of life left in the chain set.
Something you might want to invest in is a remote infrared thermometer. Those are dandy little tools that can track down a lot of issues. Warm the engine to operating temperature, it will tell you what the coolant is running. Check the exhaust manifolds and you can find a misfiring cylinder because the manifold will be cooler. You can check burgers and steaks to see if they are done.
I think if you invest in all new hoses when you do the water pump, you won't need to deal with anything else this winter.