Any last minute tips before I change my water pump so I can stop putting coolant in my car every 4 weeks? (98Z)

The pump came in tact (autozone) with some gaskets, the guy there told me I don't need to put any gunk on the gaskets just put them on. So I guess if I remove the old pump and just put the new one on with the gaskets and torque things down I'll be ok?

I'm guessing I'll probably be spilling some coolant and of course have to add some more when I'm done.

Are there any other gotcha's?

 

I skim a little permatex blue on both side of the gaskets, just to be sure it doesnt leak. Not alot, just a light coating.

 

Thanks, I'll grab some from the store before I start.

 

God god, that took me about 5 hours and I'm lettin sit overnight before firing it up to see if I don't get any leaks. Here's what I did...


Removed intake or whatever puts the air into the throttle body...
Took belt off tensioner, and removed tensioner.
Removed hoses from water pump and one hose from the throttlebody in the way. (lots of coolant came out)
unbolted the water pump... Found I could not get it out and I didn't want to remove the throttle body.
Removed the AC compressor? next to the battery, that did the trick...
Spent an hour cleaning the ports on the block because the stock gasket stuck to it... That was fun.

Put gaskets with gasket sealer on the new pump and did everything in reverse... (put in some more dextrol or whatever that coolant is).

Total pain in the **** and I now question if GM hates mechanics... I guess I should have taken some pics and did a how-to, but I'm a newbie and probably messed something up, LOL...