I had a 1969 VW van, but fortunately I never had to change the water pump.
Those Volkswagon bugs and vans were known for their excellent water pumps.
It seems like a bonus, today, if we are able to do our own maintenance beyond filling up the wiper fluid reservoir. I’ve changed thermostats, new spark plugs and spark plug cables (gotta watch that firing sequence), brake pads and rotors.
I’m no mechanic, that stuff was easy back in the day. Not anymore.