Intrepid Oil Pump - Help!!!

Does anyone know of an easier softer way to do the pump replacement?
I really do not want to rebuild the 3. 5 Liter engine.
New Water Pump, Belt Timing and Plugs/Harness.
Knocks when I start it now like no oil is getting to the Lifters/Valves.
Help me if you can!!!
Thanks
Slim

I assume you have a 2.7l engine, because it is junk and has these sort of problems. These engine have sludge problems and various other problems that cause total loss of engine. The oil return passages sludge up and then the oil can't return to the pan, so the oil pan goes dry and you lose oil pressure. Then the oil pump gets ruined b/c of no oil and other engine parts get damaged b/c the oil pump is not picking up any oil. Then the timing chain likes to break b/c of the sludge problem and then the whole engine is ruined.
It seems that a lot of these fail before 100K miles.

I assume you have a 2.7l engine, because it is junk and has these sort of problems. These engine have sludge problems and various other problems that cause total loss of engine. The oil return passages sludge up and then the oil can't return to the pan, so the oil pan goes dry and you lose oil pressure. Then the oil pump gets ruined b/c of no oil and other engine parts get damaged b/c the oil pump is not picking up any oil. Then the timing chain likes to break b/c of the sludge problem and then the whole engine is ruined.
It seems that a lot of these fail before 100K miles.

Neon, thanks for the info.
I do have a 3.5 Liter though.
The top end was rebuild 6months ago and I assume that the bottom now is in need.
Thanks

Sorry didn't see the reference to the 3.5l, I'm glad you don't have the 2.7l, you would have more of a headache than you already have. But, why rebuild the top half and then later the bottom? For about $800-$1200 you can get low mileage 3.5l from junkyard.