Yes, but front relative to what?
What is meant is the pump is two large pieces. The "front" half is the portion with the impeller. That is what you will get with the BAT and many of the parts store pumps.
The back half is what the hoses connect to and contains a metal "cup" that the impeller fits into. Make sure this cup is secure, since one theory about W/P failures is this cup comes loose and grinds down the impeller or shatters it.
And yes, since the belt is a small one, the tensioner is easily moved by hand.
HTH,
TB
Just completed a waterpump job myself, on the Buick
Second one in 40K miles.
