I do not believe the 7.4 was ever available with dry joint. If you actually have a dry joint now I suspect you have a modified
8.1 system on the 7.4 engine. I do not believe the 8.1 system had closed cooling to the manifolds. Bottom line, to have closed cooling to the 8.1 manifolds the plumbing must be modified with a lot of thought. If the manifolds were open cooling before and the 8.1 manifolds are still open cooling then the thermostat is not in the system for the manifolds.
what was the system before the dry joint partial or full cooling?
what are the dry joint manifolds, 496/8.1 or something else ?
you are correct, the factory never offered it. however the aftermarket performance market has offered "dry joint: for decades via companies like Gil and Stainless Marine, Dana, Lightning, etc. read the details of the posts
The OP is specifically calling out Stainless Marine as well..... because the OP specifically said.... I have Stainless Marine....
http://www.stainlessmarine.com/prod...big-block-exhaust-manifolds-risers-tailpipes/
however if plumbed the way the factory plumbed them in either open or closed cooling, they would work fine.
the OP also added or someone has added to his boat a supercharger. so my guess is the manifold feed plumbing was changed.
we are waiting for the pic of his plumbing to help him out.