Hi, Tony.

I'm no mechanic (proven below), but I've replaced the water pump twice
in about three hours each time, working slowly and almost carefully enough.
The pump part is pretty straightforward.
-Helps to have the new pump in hand to figure out where the blind bolts are.
-Loosening the A/C compressor is interesting.
-Easiest to just get all the belts completely out of the way.
-Suggest replacing the little L shaped hose at the same time
 since it's simple to do then and it caused my van's inaugural
 non-head-related coolant spill, quite a milestone.

More experience from the dark side: Breaking the plastic hall effect
holder on the distributor while prying the pump off with a long
screwdriver elicits demonic retribution.
The hall effect device falls out of the distributor and
an extremely rich mixture loads up the combusted gas
channel with  carbon, causing the engine to slowly wind down to a halt and
requiring replacement of cat, muffler, distributor, and other expensive
parts.  Treat that  hell effect device and its location with great
respect and reverence.

The www.busdepot.com closeout $49.95 pump is a great price.

And despite it all, its easy to get emotionally attached to these big
teddy bear vans.

Good luck.

Tom (obviously not my real name or I wouldn't admit to these fiascos) Neal
'87 syncro with many much newer parts

On Tue, 23 Mar 1999, zyno wrote:

> Hi, can anyone tell me how much time it should take to change a water
> pump on a 86 Vangon?  How about any tricks to the trade?  Mine is
> starting to make that sound when the bearing is going south.
>
> Thanks in advance, Tony
>