I was gonna ask the site via their webform (they no longer take calls for tech info), but their site isn't able to decode my VIN and therefore will not let me proceed.

Part # 1998-2003 Mopar 68382493AA

This part says it fits options: Eh0 El0 Em0.
I'm not sure which options those are.
Can anyone please clarify? Just want to make sure I'm getting the right pump before I spend $200 shipped.

The main confusion lies in that the PARTS DRAWING on the Moparpartsgiant site shows a pump with an impeller that spins clockwise, while the PHOTO of the part shows a counterclockwise spinning pump (which is what mine uses). Thanks!

 

Not sure I understand your question, to me both images you posted show the impeller in the same orientation.

I'd get on rock auto and order a gates pump, no reason to pay for that Mopar stamp when the Chinese are probably building it anyway.

this is even a mopar part# on rock auto for $70 less, gates did not populate by part number search, if you search by vehicle it may come up. I put gates on my pickup motors, van may be slightly different port locations.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=2208&jsn=319

EDIT:

Correction, my dyslexia is showing, it was on there, for $45, give you money for a new fan clutch while your at it.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=2208&jsn=315

 

If you look closely (look at the direction of the waterways) they're opposite. Apparently, certain 5.9L motors were manufactured with water pumps that spin the other direction. LA motors, for example.

Anyways, thank you for the links. I find rockauto's site a challenge to navigate.

 

What's the issue? It's super easy just type in the vehicle info and it's in the drop down menu. If you are looking for a genuine "mopar" water pump you won't find it there. If you look at some of the part #'s they give you a list of replacements/superseded #'s. You can also use the oem part #(in the search box) and you will get a list of what's available.
"OEM / Interchange Numbers: 4851178AA, 4851178AB, 4851178AC, 4851178AD, 53020135, 53020280, 53021018, 53021018AB, 53021018AC, 53021018AD, 53021018AF, 53021018AG, 68382493AA, RCWP1550, RCWP1669"

 

See, that IS the issue: They DO carry the mopar waterpump, (please see HERE: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=2208&jsn=319) but you're correct that "you won't find it there" ...at least not by navigating their site normally.

Furthermore, if I type in "1999" for the year and "ram van 3500" I can browse van stuff (still the mopar water pump won't show up), but if I type "1998" as the year, it will only accept "B3500", otherwise it will ignore the word "van" only show ram truck stuff.

Anyways, it's not a huge problem, and I'm learning my way around the site, especially after spending some $ there, yesterday. I just want to clarify what I meant when I said "I find rockauto's site a challenge to navigate."

 

This is a very common thing on many different websites, when doing parts searches for our vans. With a '98, you may as well get used to it. (Mine is a '98 as well.)

I often have both a '99 Ram Van *and* a '98 B3500 saved in my "garage", just to see if they come up with different results Sometimes those so-called "fitment charts" on eBay and Amazon will only show one or the other; but I doubt that anyone's going to take the trouble to fix them now, for a vehicle more than a quarter-century old. (yeah, sounds a bit weird when you put like that, doesn't it? But hey, I'm passing my three-quarters century on Thursday, so my Dodge is just a kid.)

Dodge started using the Magnum engine instead of the LA back in 1992 or thereabouts, so I doubt there are significant differences with any engine-related parts between '98 and '99.

 

The main difference in water pumps is whether it has a serpentine or v belts as that changes the rotation of the pump. There are also press on pulleys and bolt on pulleys on the serpentine units.

 

And that would be magnum vs LA. The early magnum pumps had a removable pulley, They made them non removable in the following years(superseded #'s). The only issue with RA is where they put stuff in the drop down menu. The second would be "all the parts your car will ever need", I can find a ton of stuff they have so that saying is not true. Think of RA as one of the auto parts chain stores, They don't carry oem parts. And there was a aftermarket brand with the same name(oem NOT original equipment manufacture) just to confuse people.
https://oemautopartsco.weebly.com/