water pump

I replaced my water pump approx 4,000 miles ago. The engine is in the final stages of a rebuild and the mechanic tells me I need a new one. He says since it has sat for 5 weeks that it may act/sieze up when I get the engine back in there. Obviously I don't want to pull the t-belt for a water pump but this guy has really been giving me the run around. Anyone out there heard of a problem like this? The water pump is from CarQuest. Thanks

Sounds like BS to me.

Could be BS or not. If your water pump has been exposed while rebuilding an engine you never know what could have creeped in it while sitting. To be safe ask the mechanic what would cause it to "act" up.

Its all aluminum, it wont rust like older POS pumps ;) It should be fine. We typically let pumps sit for months/years and I have never heard of this.