On Sat, 3 May 2008 20:42:29 -0700 (PDT), Rick Root
wrote:

So I'm not very mechanical, and my dad, who is, helped me replace the
water pump (all of it) in my 1985 mercruiser alpha one stern drive.

I'm not a mechanic, and hopefully one will step in and answer your
question.

Here's a site that seems helpful with the installation of a water pump.
Perhaps it is in a little more depth than the manual you had, and you may
key on something you missed.

http://tinyurl.com/424wpd

Good luck.
--
John *H*