Re: freshwater clam
I bought a '65 Mercruiser in like '75 that had spent it's life at a marina with the lower unit submerged. Actually, when I answered the ad and looked at the boat, it had at least a foot of water inside at the stern. Really doubt that the guy ever pulled it and serviced the gear train. I gave $1600 for it and after I found out what I bought, that was wayyyyyy too much.<br /><br />I completely redid the boat including full paint, new floor, floatation, carpet, engine and outdrive complete overhauls......the oil in the engine was yellow, I mean really yellow.....my first experience with yellow oil and why it's yellow....then there was that crack down the side of the block where it had frozen at least once.<br /><br />In short all the lower unit was pitted and I could see that I would have had problems with the sealing surfaces on the rebuild. What I did was to take JB Weld and a file(s) and remake the sealing areas.<br /><br />After the overhaul, we used it for over 5 years with no breakdowns. It was an 18' aluminum Starcraft and not very "Bass" fishable so I sold it to 3 boys (and bought a bass boat) and the last time I heard they were still using it.<br /><br />Neither of us had any problems with the repaired sealing surfaces. If you don't have JB weld, any metal impregnated opoxy that sets up without voids (where you can file...machine it) should work.<br /><br />Also, if you have a machine shop nearby, they could probably save you a ton of time by machining the surfaces for you after you glue them up.......be sure the surface is clean down to fresh aluminum before you apply the build-up material so it will stick good......and be sure you don't get any bubbles in it. <br /><br />Good luck,<br />Mark
<br /><br />Then again, in my world, a fresh water clam is an outboard such as you bought that refuses to run. 