omc cobra water leak

[jpryorx2]

i have a 88 four winns with the 3 liter and cobra outdrive and have a pretty bad leak into the bilge. i can't see exactly where the water is coming in but i can feel it at the bottom left side of the transom. at first i thought it was a rotter transom so i pulled the lower unit and had a rush of water as soon as i separated it for the gimle housing.then i noticed water in the driveshaft bellow so i thought that could be my problem but when i pulled the bellow out i can't find any rips or holes. could it be that when the hose from the outdrive to the engine was still full of water and some went into the bellow as i pulled it? i have ordered the new bellows and gimble bearing either way but don't want to put it back together yet if i'm still gonna have a leak just to end up pulling it out again to replace the transom.
thanks
jason

 

[jpryorx2]

so i have a rotted transom got the engine out and am working on the outdrive mount now. what is the best way to deal with the hydraulic trim?

 

[Bondo]

what is the best way to deal with the hydraulic trim?

Ayuh,...... Disconnect the lines wherever ya can get 'em apart,.....

There'll be abit of oil loss, so have a rag handy,....

 

[jpryorx2]

ok thanks got them off and the outdrive mount to find that the transom seal was installed wrong and alot more rotted wood then i thought and the end of the stringers are rotten also so i'm for a even bigger project then i planed on