water pump replacement

On a truck of this vintage, I would make sure that the mounting area of the water pump is smooth and free of any old gasket material or corrosion. I would create a thin layer of the silicone gasket material on both sides of the gasket so that the pump can really seal. So. I coat the Engine with a thin coat and then put on the gasket to the engine and then I coat the pump and then put it CAREFULLY in place on the motor and use a couple of bolts to snug it up and then I check the seal and fit of the pump, the gasket and the sealant. Then I put in all the rest of the bolts and torque all of them properly. THEN I fill the cooling system with coolant and pressure check it to make sure my work is 'squared away' and that the there is no seepage of coolant.