66 Dorsett with mercruiser outdrive

[utfyrfytr]

First time poster. I have a good friend with a 1966 Dorsett boat that has a 150HP Mercruiser engine and outdrive. The bellows boot leaked and over the winter (3 years ago) the gimbal bearing rusted to the drive shaft. The boat is overall in excellent condition and I can pick it up for next to nothing. My question is what would be the easiest repair, remove and repair the existing unit or find a replacement outdrive. I am fairly mechanical and can usually figure things out but have never worked on boats. Also if I look for a replacement what years would fit? Thanks for what ever information you can give me.

 

[NHGuy]

Try to keep the drive, nix the gimbal.
First thing would be spray some penetrating oil, I'd use PB Blaster, right on the shaft where it contacts the gimbal bearing. Then remove spark plugs and see if it cranks. Then work on removing the drive. I don't know the vintage you have but if my type is any guide, it needs to be in forward gear. Remove the trim rams, if it has them. If it has no rams but has cable driven tilt you will need to disconnect it at the top of the drive. Remove the rearward facing nuts that hold the drive to the bellhousing. Now try to pull the drive back away from the bellhousing . If it sticks you may be able to lift up the drive, and drop it against the boat. If that does not free it put a piece of wood under the drive and push the drive down against the wood to leverage the drive back from the transom. Be smart though, don't break the drive. Break replaceable failed stuff, like the gimbal bearing. Just be sure that it's in forward gear so it does not cause shift link damage as it slides back.
Folks who know more than I will be along with more info, hang on.