Tim wrote:

James, I'm liking your approach to this and it sounds more
encouraging that you're up for the task and not a novice.

Again the OMC and the Mercruiser are the same engines that you'd find
in a comparable 3/4 ton Chevy pickup with the exception of a
different cam shaft, steel stead of cast iron crankshaft. The freeze
plugs are a non corrosive metal due to usually a raw water
application as well as the water pump. The diffrence between an auto
and a marine pump is the boat pump has special sealed bearings and
usually powder coated inside to prevent water damage to the bearings
and also prevent rust corrosion. The alternators and starters have
spark resistant shielding as well. If a guy is handy with tools you
shouldn't have any problem with maintainance. If you decide to
persue. this project. It'd be worth getting a mercruiser shop
manual. The book is extremely thourough and great to have around. You
can get a complete shop manual for 20 -30 bucks on eBay. Keep us
informed. Btw there's a lot of great archives in rec boats that a
person can look up as well.

This particular boat has a closed cooling system (fresh water). Our
sailboat was raw water kind of pita to winterize but I just pumped Rv
anti-freeze through it. I had a '67 3/4 ton Chevy 4X4 with a 327 in it
that I rebuilt ran good. Then I got an '81 Chevy 1 ton with a 454 now I
have a Superduty 7.3L which gets a whole lot better mileage.Jim