GMT-400 Water Pump

[700 sportsman]

Hey guys, as some of you may know I blew a heater hose a while back, and coolant sprayed all over, so about 2 weeks later I noticed a small puddle of coolant underneath, so I figured it was sitting on the motor/front end, etc. and slowly dripping, I then suspected it was the water pump after I saw there was a little bit around the weep hole on the pump, but when I greased the front end and stuff I wiped all the excess coolant off of the parts underneath, and now I have a puddle again, and it's been sitting for a couple days, and the weep hole it wet, and it is coming out of there, so I guess it is the water pump after all.
So I went to napa, and got a new one, it's a True-Flow brand it is supposed to have good bearings, and also it comes with the gaskets and a big plus is that it has a lifetime warranty, and it was only $65 with tax, I figured it'd be $75 or more.

So do you guys have any tips/hints on changing it ('96 C2500 with the 5.7L)
I've been advised to leave the belt on and break the nut on the fan loose, then remove the belt, I'll have to take a peak at the service manual too, but anybody have any other first hand tips on swapping one out?

Thanks in advance

 

[Bigredmariner]

That's good advice on the belt. Other than that it's pretty straight forward nuts and bolts. Just make sure you clean the gasket surface on the block really good so you don't have a leak at one of the gaskets.

 

[OldCracker29]

Hey guys, as some of you may know I blew a heater hose a while back, and coolant sprayed all over, so about 2 weeks later I noticed a small puddle of coolant underneath, so I figured it was sitting on the motor/front end, etc. and slowly dripping, I then suspected it was the water pump after I saw there was a little bit around the weep hole on the pump, but when I greased the front end and stuff I wiped all the excess coolant off of the parts underneath, and now I have a puddle again, and it's been sitting for a couple days, and the weep hole it wet, and it is coming out of there, so I guess it is the water pump after all.
So I went to napa, and got a new one, it's a True-Flow brand it is supposed to have good bearings, and also it comes with the gaskets and a big plus is that it has a lifetime warranty, and it was only $65 with tax, I figured it'd be $75 or more.

So do you guys have any tips/hints on changing it ('96 C2500 with the 5.7L)
I've been advised to leave the belt on and break the nut on the fan loose, then remove the belt, I'll have to take a peak at the service manual too, but anybody have any other first hand tips on swapping one out?

Thanks in advance

Leaving the belt on will help, but you'll still need to strategically place a pry bar in there somewhere to get that bolt loose. That is the same water pump I put on my '99. Good luck, and don't forget the gasket, and some perma- gasket.

 

[Black02Silverado]

You got it down pretty well. I had to change the wp on our 98 Sub. Not to bad but that fan can be a bear. If you can get an impact wrench on it that might help.

 

[Zembonez]

One of the easiest water pumps ever created once you get the damn fan clutch off. Very simple to do with basic tools.

Pull the fan shroud.
Remove the fan and clutch.
Pull the pump.