96 2.4L Water Pump replacement

It's leaking out the weep hole so I figure it's gonna go soon. The shop says $900 to replace because you have to loosen the timing chain. I bought a manual and it says that the pump can be change dout without removing the engine, but I don't see how. If you need to loosen the timing chain tensioner then you need to remove the timing chain cover. To do that you need to remove that crackshaft idler pulley. I only have about 1.5 inches between the pulley and the sidewall. What am I missing? Anyone out there ever sone this?

Thanks in advance.

i dont think you need to pull all of that out i have my old motor sitting in the garage and it loos like you just need to get the exhaust out of the way and unbolt it and pull it off. if u want i can pull it off and see what is involded but i cant get to it till sunday. if i had a digital camra i would take pictures.