I'll try it dry. The gasket sealer really helped hold the gasket in place during reassembly... this was especially true because I had to push hard on the pump to mate it with the block (pump must have been on up-stroke when engine was stopped).

I'll try to rotate the engine so the pump is not on the up stroke this time...

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1985 MBZ 300DT
1969 MBZ 220d
1984 MBZ 300TDT
1981 VW Vanagon