Expert: Everett Peacock - 8/3/2010

Question
hi i just bought a 1979 boat with a Volvo penta 255b/280 motor and drive unit. i am new to boats and dont know too much about them but i do have some car and truck mechanical experience under my belt. my question is however pertaining to the cooling system. after buying the boat the motor started up just fine. considering the previouse owner told me it had been sitting for 4 years i was quite supprised. anyways i noticed that the cover on the raw water pump was not on and i could see the empeller. well the empeller was spinning but no water was running through the system. all while i had the muffs connected at the lower unit. i thought that maybe it was because the empeller was not enclosed so it wasn't getting any suction so i put the metal cover and a small paperlike gasket that was laying around back on. i then disconnected the thermastat housing and checked it nd there was no thermostat. instead it was bone dry and had what looked like remnants of curroded metal below the thermostat.well i fired it up with the thermostat housingoff and still no water. i tried holding the housing in place but still to no avail. however, where the housing bolts on there was suction and the housing itself was blowing a little. i havent noticed any cloggs further down but honestly havent really looked that well. if anyone could help me solve mproblem it would be greatly appreciated. thanx

Answer
that engine has a salt water pump on it..that pump housing must be together tightly.  That pump is the only way the engine gets any water...with a new impeller kit and a set of flushers you should be ok...at the bottom of the stern drive there is a hole that you need to put a rag in while running on the flushers,  if not the water will run srtaight out..