Update: I have this all back together and car is running well. Machine shop found an dip in one of the heads around the rear cylinder, so maybe that was it.

I was staring at the water pump the entire job and checked the bearing for play and found none. Now that it's running again, the bloody pump is leaking like a sieve. Not the end of the world to get to now but would have been far easier, and a lot less mess, to have done it while it was just sitting there in the open. But I didn't want to spend the $130 for the pump.

It's little wonder I am bald.

 

You know , I applaud those who work on their own engines . But for peace of mind , and not too much cash to invest , I got a Turner engine . Going on five years now and no leaks or overheating

 

Now is your chance to get a FlowKooler pump. Excellent quality and design.

Try siphoning coolant out of the radiator fill plug. That gets it down below the pump, so less mess.