WTF is this thing that came with my water pump? I'm about to do the water pump in my car and i can't figure this part out. anybody know what it's for? and do i have to plug the hole where the pipe that came with it goes?

I think thats the bracket / tool that is sometimes included to hold your timing cover in place while changing the pump so you don't break the cover seal.

Supposedly the new pump I have on the shelf, (just in case), has a "tool" included..I'll have to open it up and see if it looks like that thing you have

Randy

wow... where's wadeduck and jazzman when you need em? probably working.

Yep, that's what it is. The timing cover is held on with the water pump bolts so if you pry on the water pump without some means to hold the top of the timing cover to the block you'll pop the seal between it and the block, thereby causing water to leak into the oil and do all sorts of nasty things to the engine. Now, some people have good luck not using that bracket but I say, why take the chance? If you pop the timing cover seal you have to pull the harmonic dampener to change the seal, etc.

Library was closed yesterday for the MLK holiday, sorry for the late reply.

James