Water pump woes

[4cstr]

Hey all...I think I dropped a water pump on the trip home from the Black Hills yesterday. I start to hear this "chachachachacha" sound going down the road...but everything guage wise read normal. This was about 30 miles from home. Got home, and at idle was very noticable. Popped the hood and could see the fan blade wiggling, making that "chachachachacha" sound at the same time. After shutting off the truck noticed that there appeared to be rust colored stuff all over the front of the engine...in a spray pattern. I grabbed the fan and it wobbles a good 1/8 to 1/4 inch up and down...side to side. Not sure...but don't think its supposed to do that.

So...my question to all you smart fellas out there...

1. Does this sound like a water pump problem? Isn't the fan attached to a shaft that goes in/through/attaches to the water pump. I am kinda dumb around these things...but am learning fast.

2. If it is a water pump...how hard is it to change? Is it something that a shadetree parttime mechanic could fix?

3. I called around and found a part store here that has a new pump for $229 with lifetime warranty. Is this a decent price?

4. Are there any gotcha's that I should be aware of?

Thanks for any and all help. I have an appt next Tuesday to take it in...but really would like to pocket the labor money myself if I can.

Dave

[arcticcatPSD]

It sounds like you need a water pump and you need it fast. I had my pump go out about 10k ago and everywhere I looked they wanted $280-$300 for a pump so I looked on ebay and found one for $150 it didnt come with a warrnty but I still bought it hope this helps

[sizelove]

We just changed mine this past weekend. I screwed up the thermostat screw holes which prompted the need. But when the old one was removed it showed signs of leaking, so it was only a matter of time before it went out. A local parts house here sold me a new pump for $159, no core.

The removal should be pretty easy. The hardest part was getting the fan disconnected from the pump - for my truck it unscrewed normal threadwise. Ford has special tools to hold the pulley in place as you break the fan loose - we fought it for a couple hours. Finall it came loose, once that was done the waterpump was traded out in about 30 minutes or less. Breaking the fan loose was our only headache.