Water Pump Gasket & Sealant/ Tensioner O-ring Questions

[Make 'em Last]

Preparing to replace the water pump in my '99 3800 Series II NA with 152K in an Olds Intrigue. Am I silly considering buying a Felpro gasket for $5 when a thin paper gasket comes w/ the water pump (Autozone Duralast)? What sealant do you folks use on the gasket? Both sides?

Anyone know a good approach to get locally the replacement O-rings for the heater hose fittings that attach to the belt tensioner? Dealer only?

Have already read the excellent posts on water pump & tensioner R&R procedures - thanks to the posters.

Was this the right place to post this question?

[BNaylor]

Your post is fine here. I would go with the Felpro gasket. And good luck with the Duralast water pump.

[tblake]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Your post is fine here. I would go with the Felpro gasket. And good luck with the Duralast water pump.

Duralast no good Bob? If I remember right from the tech college, their brake pads seemed ok. But that is I only got to put them in when the customer requested, so I never got to see the dust or check the stopping power.