Here's the problem, i have been over heating for the past couple of weeks in my 99 dodge dakota when i stop at a light, i changed the thermostat, and routed out radiator, still over heating, really the only thing left is the water pump, just curious if there a pain in the butt or basic repalcement with normal tools? any help would be appreciated.

IF the pump is failing(and is causing overheating probs)... it is MORE THAN LIKELY making noise or leaking tooooo. I would say your rad is the prob.

radiator has been routed out and is good as new.

Check the fan clutch. Probably not enough air flow when stopped.

Is it a 2.2 or a 2.0/2.4? I did my Breeze 2.0 SOHC and it was a ---bear--- because the thing is in sideways (not your issue) and I couldnt get the lower pulley off with the tools I had. It needs a very long screw for the puller as the bolt is in there about 4 inches deep. I think I used a ratchet extension to get the needed reach. Do the timing belt while you are in there as it needs to come off anyway and you dont want to do this twice if you can avoid it. Mine started to weep out the hole telling me it was kaput. And you did check your thermostat and guage/sender right? Mine was running cold forever but it was a faulty sender that was telling my guage it was cold (never was)as my heater was always nice and hot.

not a clutch fan, electric.the motor size is 2.5 i think. Is there possibly another issue? the water pump has about 150,000 miles on it. could the blades have deteriorated, i heard of this happening on high mileage pumps

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.