Well just as a friendly update and yet again another thank you for the guidance on this one.
Got the water pump to seal. Had a whole bunch of RTV (as was speculated around here) that pushed a portion of the bottom of the gasket away from its holding place.
Pressure tested everything and the only thing leaking was my radiator just a few drops. Dropped it off at Gilly's Radiator Shop in Placerville this morning on my way to work showed him the hairline crack and he told me it would be a simple and easy fix.
Good news is looks like I will be able to get the truck back online by this next weekend.