Anyway, I installed the rebuilt pump and gasket with Permatex pliable "form a gasket" (black sticky stuff that stays compliant) recommended by dude at the auto parts store. After getting all hoses, timing belt covers, radiator etc. back on, I fired it up. Looks good. Sounds good.
Took it out for a short spin. Hmmm, do I smell hot radiator fluid? Pulled over and looked underneath to see the dismal peeing green fluid. Limped home with temperature rising...
Everything off. Undo the water pump bolts to find that the black goo
has disolved in the heat and the gasket is destroyed. Cleaned surfaces
with laquer thinner and this time tried silicone RTV "super blue" goo.
Let it set for ~2 hours. Then assembled. Tightened again after a few hours
and again the next morning. (Your not supposed to have to do that, but
I'm paranoid now). Looks good again.
Everything back on again -- in only about half the time.
I'm getting
good at this!
Sunday - blue goo is looking good. Took it out for a spin. Is the temp. needle reading a tad warmer than before or is it just my imagination? Will need to keep a lookout and perhaps change to a different thermostat - or stick the old one back in.
Future tips:
Put aluminum foil over timing belt to protect it. Leave thermostat
and right aluminum intake casting attached to pump so you don't have to
wrestle with the short hose while installing. Take the whole thing off
at once, then disassemble. On reassembly, install timing belt covers,
then
fan, then radiator, then shroud. Bruce's single socket-head machine screw
is a handy replacement for the one that is next to the distributor pulley.