Your thermostats slammed shut the instant the antifreeze got to them.
You simply pumped all 10 gallons out your exhaust. Your block is still water
It is your choice. Drain the water you didn't drain
Or buy two new motors in spring
Read the factory manual on what it says about draining and...
@tpenfield , back about 2003/4 The office I worked at was on a curve on US 41 in De Pere Wisconsin with a good view of 2 miles of highway in both directions.
Watching traffic one lunch hour, there was a family with all their belongings loaded into a 36' travel trailer. They loaded most in the...
2 bushings in the housing. However if you have 0 side to side motion (use a dial indicator, could be 0.008 or less) then your bushings are not a problem
Not knowing any details, best answer is "maybe"
Would help to know the following:
Current Pontoon size, log size, etc
Current motor size
Gull details of current issues you mentioned on steering
If the core plugs were pushed out, 99.99995% chance the block is cracked. (GM blocks never survive a freezing that pushes core plugs out)
Take it to your local machine shop and have it magnafluxed
Without knowing where you are at with your boat and current prop, no one can make a guess if you have the right prop or the wrong prop
The right prop will allow your motor to hit the top of the full RPM spec lightly loaded
You never want to be over-prop'd
