Michael,
Re: Water pump packing: Mcmaster catalog number 9518K82 3/16 square braided low friction packing 5 foot spool ~$18.
link to description:
https://www.mcmaster.com/9518k82-9518K821
Cut rings by wrapping material around a 3/4" dia. wood dowel or other cylindrical piece exactly .75 in. dia. and cut ends square with a sharp knife. Do not cut on the pump shaft, as it will be scratched by the knife, leading to packing wear. Push rings into the packing space one at a time, The ends will butt tightly. Stagger butts 180 degrees in alternate rings. When you can not push another ring in, push the rings down with the follower piece, using the threaded nut, do not tighten the nut. Back off the nut, pull the follower back, put in another ring, etc., until you can just barely engage the nut with the threads, tighten by hand, then use a big screwdriver or small pry bar to tighten the nut, but not forcibly. then back off the nut and screw it down finger tight.
Note that the rear packing nut has a left hand thread. Both nuts tighten in the direction of shaft rotation.
Enough?
Happy Holidays
Al Rustad