John, when you replaced the water pump, I'm guessing that you did not replace the rear housing. If you did not, the old one was probably stripped out already by the previos owner over torquing it. This is not uncommon. It's best to just replace that part with a new one, or get the one from MX.

Oh ...i see some spare parts in the kit( o rings and the other bracket duh. thats where they go! a bracket! now i see now. i will pull it off tomorrow provided its a good time to get greasy. thanks for offer. i will see if i cant fix/get a local one. naturally i probably ruined the gasket i smeared no. 1 permatex forma gasket lightly on both sides and theonly gasket i see anywhere is one for bracket. montero water pump gasket gets nothing but bracket to block gasket. but i see it pictured on flea bay but it sez not for 97 ls. mebbe gasket can be reused. thanks

what i mean is no one sells the water pump gasket. anyone know where? all parts houses sell water pump gasket with a pump. abd they list the rear housing gasket as the water pump gasket and the rear housing isnt in 98 fsm for 3.5 ls. i will look tomorrow and take rear housing off. (i was calling it a bracket) but that explains the o ring and extra gaskets.

use hylomar for the gasket

i do not see this rear housing or the water pipe. manual sez to remove thermostat. i will do that but there is no rear housing in manual. water pump gasket needs replacement. i kant find one anywhere. lots of housing to block gaskets which they call a water pump gasket but it is in fact not. when i have an fsm over 600 pages long and start disassembling things that arent in there i get to go to the ATM and withdraw more money than usual.

LOL <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

The water pump is a clam shell with 2 parts and the part that is closest to the engine is the rear housing.<PIC 1>

The rear housing connects to the pipe you mention. It runs underneath the intake manifold.

thanks i cleaned the gasket that i put on two days ago. i had smeared permatex no 1 form a gasket on bothe sides and boy does it stick..the paper gasket is shredded. took off due to bolts were stripping. the four 10 mm head ones werent grabbing 17 lbs torque. studs would work fine or helicoil. now i need a water pump gasket. also i found the water pipe. the new o ring in kit is not as fat as old one. and i found 2 gaskets in thermosat housing and the gasket that is between the housing and block. they are metal gaskets. should i put paper ones in my kit in there or reuse metal ones? they dont have no sealant and look ok. and should i use sealant on the o ring? and still i have another larger o ring in the kit that i do not know where it goes.

Photos would help a lot.

WARNING : Do not use that Permatex #1 anymore. Get RTV silicone sealant made for the job. That stuff you're using is for "permanent sealing". Use this>>>
http://www.permatex.com/products/Automot...cone_Gasket.htm

#1 Do not use sealant on the O rings. Go to auto parts store and find the right size.

#2 The paper gaskets should do fine. Personally, I reused the metal ones by putting a thin coat of sealant on both sides first.

#3 The water pump gasket comes when you buy a new WP. I do not know where to buy one separately. You can make your own with this>>>http://www.permatex.com/products/automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_sealants/auto_Permatex_Hylomar_Universal_Blue_Racing_Formula_Gasket_Dressing_Flange_Sealant.htm

I made one out of 3 sheets of 140lb watercolor paper sandwiched together with black RTV sealant and it worked fine. It was messy making it but I think I did fine, no leaks so far.

I would say just buy a new WP and get the real gasket and O-ring.
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/1998/mitsubishi/montero/cooling_system/water_pump.html

The NPW comes with the gasket and new O-ring.

thanks. i went to the site you gave and i see one with the housing on the pump for 75 bucks. that solves tapping 4 holes on old one and the gasket of course comes with it.. one more thing..the hydraulic pre tensioner doesnt leak .. has 140k miles...should i get a new one anyway?