I have the water pump unbolted and moving around freely. But i just cant get it oriented in a way that fits out. Are you guys removing it out the top or bottom? Any tricks or suggestions as to what angle works best?

 

Get a jack under the engine(with a piece of wood in between the jack and oil pan), remove the lower right engine mount and lower the engine until the water pump comes out.

 

What is it hanging up on?

 

Well first of all i still have the timing belt "pully" still in place. I am on my way to buy a better quality T45 so i dont strip the bolt head. But i dont know if removing that will really make much difference. I just feels like there is not enough room to get it out between the engine and the inner fender.

 

Drop the engine a bit then it will make it a lot easier to take it out

 

Any time I am working in that area I remove the ECUs and box; gives you a lot more room and easier to see what you're doing. Once that's out just slide out the cooling duct that goes toward the firewall too. Just takes a minute as it's all held together with spring snaps.

Another trick for your torx drive on the pulleys; as I remember not enough room to actually get a ratchet onto a 3/8" drive torx bit, so grab it with large vise-grip pliers and then wedge a large screwdriver/prybar against the frame to keep the torx bit drive from popping out (sorry I don't have a pic) of the bolt head as you un-screw it.

Once you do get the H2O pump out of there, you'll need to get in there and carefully scrape off the old gasket off. Still going to be a PITA but much easier w/o the ECU box and duct out of the way; gives you lots more elbow room.