Not necessarily, because the water pump in a 951 is driven by the back of the timing belt, not the toothed side.

 

Also try checking the temp. sending unit. If you have access to a thermometer you could also verify your guage is accurately reporting the temp.

 

xschop and Omni...You are the WINNARS!! -- Headgasket takes the prize.

Thank you to everyone for your help and suggestions for what to check. My buddy took a closer look at the car today and it was unquestionably the HG slowly going bad...this was verified when it got REALLY bad in the last week and now exhaust is white with the sweet smell of coolant, and car runs like a tractor on startup!

With that said, does anybody have a line on a blown head that I could rebuild/ get machined and drop in with minimal downtime?? I could also provide the core after all is said and done. TIA

 

No, the belt is toothed on the side that drives the cam shaft and smooth on the side that drives the pump.