Greetings,

I have twin 350 inboards in my '86 Sea Ray 300 Weekender. They were
rebuilt a while back by the previous owner, and he requested that
Crusader blocks be used because evidently the original Mercruiser
blocks were only 2-bolt main. As such, I basically have Mercruiser
engines with Crusader blocks and full fresh water cooling.

The engines have the Bravo-style raw water pump that an octopus can
barely reach, and the starboard pump is in the worst location
possible. I guess the engineers decided that everyone would be
pulling their engines once a year to replace the impellers, because
that's almost what's required to access them.

My last boat had a Volvo V-8, which had the brass, crank-mounted raw
water pump that was easy to access and service. With the Bravo pump,
you have to completely remove it from the engine, which is a nightmare
when you consider two hoses have to come off the pump body, and
everything is underneath the engine!!! The Volvo pump had a service
plate with a handfull of screws, so replacing the impeller was a 10
minute affair.

Is it possible to convert the Bravo-style raw water pump system to the
crank mounted Volvo system on a Mercruiser engine? What's involved,
other than getting the pump kit (pump and bracket)?

Thanks in advance!!!!