I bought the tool and even bought magnets to yse the tool correctly. I ended up dropping the engine removing the cover and not using the tool at all. To use the tool safely and correctly I recommend dropping the engine and once you are there you might as well remove the cover. Save the money on the tool.

 

Recommending dropping the engine in order to replace the water pump is rather excessive when it can be done in place without too much problem. Sorry, but that is rather bad advice.

 

if you want to drop the bolts that hold the sprocket in place to fall inside the cover go your way. If you want to keep everything and save the headache drop the engine. My method doesn't take hours.

 

I drove mine with 2 bolts in the cover for thousands of miles. No problem.

You can take the cover off just as easily in the car as out. I don't understand needing to drop the engine to change the water pump. A new timing chain doesn't require it. If you are going to do a bunch of other work, ok.

Flat rate to R&R engine about 11 hours; R&R timing set in car about 5 hours.

 

LOL - really? Yeah, just do it your way if it makes you feel better.

 

 

Just finished changing out a water pump. Surprisingly, not too bad. Here's what you need. 1/4 socket set including deep well, 3/8 Deep set, hose pliers for heater hose (at the firewall), the full circle GM ITC616 water pump tool, found on Amazon) make sure its the one with permanent black bolts, set of metric box wrenches an extension mirror. and that's about it.....Oh yea, when putting the thermostat housing back on, a thick towel for your knees on the bumper and a catchers mitt for your head on the cowl vent. Take off the exhaust heat shield, air filter bracket and the engine hoist ring. takes an extra 5 minutes and saves 30....One more note. After the pump is installed, I used an extension mirror and lined up the pulley bolt holes while spinning the pump from the other side..cake!