I THINK the earlier 2.5 engines use a external water pump so other then getting at it it should be OK, especialy mounted normally in a pickup.
My 95 Neon ate it's pump so bad every time I ran it it sounded like a shredder full of metal shavings and never once leaked. I also did the Timing belt as was mentioned it has to come off anyways on that engine as it driven by that belt and if the pump locks up the belt breaks and trashes the head.
Maybe a Dakota is where they found the supposedly 96 2.5 to put in sisters 91 Sundance when the head gasket blew and ruined the block.