TR6 tr6 water pump trick?

So I'm replacing the water pump on my 74 TR6. The old one is off, but I'm wondering is there some trick to starting the three nuts, while holding the pump at the exact distance from the housing? -The A/C bracket doesn't make it more accessable.

Not really a trick, just hold the pump with one hand while starting one nut with the other. Once started, only turn the nut by one or two turns, so you have room to start the next one. I find that lightly pressing the pulley against the nut can help get it located on the end of the stud, but then you have to hold the nut and move the pulley away to actually start it, as the pulley will hold it at an angle.

But that's on my TR3, so may not be exactly applicable to your TR6.

I pondered my issue over lunch and came up with a plan. A friend of mine who probably has worked on more TR6s than I've seen, happen to call me early this afternoon. His method is to use the pump (pulley) to hold the nut in place to start it a little -after the lock washer has been installed with the skill of a surgen. But my A/C bracket is in the way so much that I can't get anywhere near the one nut (see picture with my hand resting on the bracket, and my finger fully extended towards the nut, through the access hole in the bracket). So I got a piece of masking tape about 7" long, cut it lengthwise to the width if the nut, wrapped the nut in the tape like a spool of thread, and lowered it to the stud. Then using the water pump to guide the nut, I pulled the tape which spun the nut and got it started. It worked so well, I did the same thing on the other two nuts. Had all three started and tightened in minutes.

Pure genius.

Necessity, the mother..