You're welcome. I'm glad if I can offer some help after receiving so much myself here on Brickboard.

Yes,both studs came out quite easily using the double nut method. I used these genuine Volvo studs for under a $5'er for both: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-engine-water-pump-stud-genuine-volvo-924056

I read the grease tip in the Swedishbricks FAQ: http://www.swedishbricks.net/700900FAQ/Cooling1.html#Water_Pump
It's really just to assist assembly. I may have used a smear of spent coolant, but honestly, I probably just used saliva on both the rubber bits.

I used everything in the Hepu kit, plus the Volvo studs. It all seemed to work well.

Whereabouts are you located, Bill? Here in Connecticut, we are presently seeing a dip in temps for a few days (dipping into the negative at least one night), but by next week it's back in the mid to upper 40s during the day, and right around freezing at night. My 5yo learned about Puxatawney Phil at Kindergarten today, and had a nice little craft project proclaiming six more weeks of winter. And I'm still waiting for winter to arrive... Ironically, I spent Christmas in Orlando, and they were having record cold for December. I actually saw what I thought were flurries, and everyone was wrapping their plants to protect from frost. Last time I was there in December, I recall riding my bike at night in short sleeves... Anyway, yeah, working on a cooling system in the cold does not seem like fun. Hope that works out in your favor.

I'm going to have to familiarize myself with the Gates accessory - I've not heard of it before. It sounds pretty neat. I imagine the trick is getting the right volume of air through the system, not necessarily a high pressure.

Are you in the US? I was under the impression that places which sell coolant here must also accept waste coolant. I think that's the rule for motor oil, at least. So I'll be bringing mine back to where I purchased it, which happens to be FCP. I have some oil to "return" to them anyway, so I'll make the 45 minute drive. But if I wasn't going there, any parts store should take it. I know I've previously taken mine to Autozone (huge chain store) and the like.

Oh, and one thing I did which I didn't mention: The long bolt that holds the pipe for the heater hose to the pump was pretty cruddy. Not rust, more like calcified coolant. So I just ran a die over it, and used plenty of anti-sieze compund to ease the job for the next victim - which, as I like the car so much, will probably be me.

-Wilson