This isn't my first rodeo

I have a '75 I/O,your '74 if it's the original outdrive was designated "MR" by mercruiser-Pictures as Pete and Keno said will help us relay info for your separator Look on your transom behind the lifting ring rod in the engine compartment to check for your hull tag-it will read SEP and a four digit number.
The small brass pipe coming out of your outdrive by the gimbal housing is your raw water feed that supplies water from your outdrive pump to the engine.
We need pictures-good luck

Also, you pump the gear lube into the out-drive from the bottom up, not let it fill from the top down. If you did not fill it this way, you might as well drain it again when you do the impeller. I don't know about gen 1, but my gen 2 impellers are really hardy.

A link for pictures...
Soon I will master the local File Manager and pics upload as it is now personal!

Aaron's 1974 Separator

I got u in the Air cleaner but the tube stays!

KENO wrote: Here's a link telling how to distinguish different Mercruiser outdrives complete with pictures of the obvious easy to recognize differences If you click on Pre Alpha for example you'll get pictures and info and if you click on Alpha you'll get pictures and info. link Also Pre Alpha, Mercruiser 1 and R are all different names for the same early drive

The last sentence in the quote above from yesterday pretty much sums up the various names for the early outdrive.

Once the Alpha showed up, it was easy to call the original Mercruiser 1 or R the Pre Alpha.

You have an IO so the goats are always circling, just waiting to get ya'

Ken, I picked up on the fuel filter first thing but thought "what the heck the guy just bought the boat and has not done anything to update it yet"
It will take time to update to CG approved items. Right now he is proud to show off his new toy as we all have been before. It is our job to help newcomers along and steer them in a safe direction. Not to pee on their parade. I (and others) have no idea who the PO was and won't condemn his ability or lack there of. I don't give a rats @ss if he has a tube or not. Better to have the kids out on the water having fun then to force them into a sport that fits others but may terrify them. I own three bass boat, should I be tossed to the wolves?

I think your boat is cool and has a lot of potential Keep the posts and pics coming. If we can help then don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with your new project.    Duane in Indy   

When we first started looking for an old Correct Craft in 2005, I was hoping to find a perfect Barracuda tucked away in someone's barn. After awhile, I realized they don't exist. Then at Lake George in 2008 Mr. Ralph told a story how he had to explain to a disappointed customer that had expected a perfect Correct Craft that no Correct Craft is perfect. Anyone that has met Mr. Ralph knows how that story ended. You've got a really nice boat that needs some work, just like every other one out there.

Some pics of my lower disassembly


Lower Disassembly

I will look for you on Tims Ford. What side of the lake do you generally boat on?

I keep my other boat, a red and white Stingray, at Sam's Storage and usually launch at the state park. I am waiting for confirmation, but might be out this Saturday with my Ski Nautique to help tow some kids from a Nashville housing project ministry. I bring out the boom and pull them on skis.

My next extended amount of time out there will be Labor Day.

I live in Franklin, so after school starts I tend to boat more at the far end of Percy Priest where we keep the ski club's slalom course. I do hope to get out a few more weekend day, though. Tims Ford is my favorite lake.

I don't know much about outdrives,I've never even been in one. But I think that early ones have power tilt but not power trim.

Aaron,
I agree with the idea of getting it out on the lake (with a spark arrestor on it first! ) without all the extras and see how it performs. Yes, I agree the extra weight in the bow may have been an attempt to keep the bow down at wakeboard speeds. One thing I do know is CC in later years of the Separator was adding fixed trim tabs on the bottom of the transom. With all the weight of the engine in a pretty short hull, I'm sure this was an attempt to get it to plane out faster.