2001 Nautique Project GT40 motor possible freeze?

Hey Guys, happy to join the Nautique family, NautiqueHunter pointed me this way after I picked this project up. He and his wife Gail led the way helping me fix a boat up years ago and they did an awesome job. I Picked up a 2001 Super Air Nautique needing some TLC....hoping the engine tranny and vdrive is ok although there is a crack on top of vdrive cover and I noticed the engine has 3 rubber freeze plugs....hoping from a previous freeze problem that was corrected but not sure. Boat hasn't ran in 8 years but I did let it down in the water and it fired right up, but it wasn't pulling any water, removed the water pump and even though the impeller is in one piece its very soft and worn so I'm installing a new one this week. Maybe the previous owner installed the pump upside down at some point because it seemed it should still pull some water. The boat has been in a covered boat slip but left without the cover on the boat so it's nasty. I'm just hoping the engine vdrive and transmission is ok, maybe wishful thinking. It fired right up and sounded good for a minute or two but I shut it down when I noticed the manifolds were getting very warm to touch. Pulled the brass plug and very little water ran out. Any advice? I guess I'm nervous to see the result when it starts circulating water and if the oil and water mix. The fluid levels are in range for right now, but I know they need a change bad if motor does circulate water ok. I will add that once I got the boat this fall I drained the manifolds, block which both had some water in them, I'm guessing for 8 years since that's the last time it ran before I cranked it this past weekend. Is it possible to get out with just replacing a vdrive cracked cover? Wishful thinking

Thanks Gary for that info! I was actually wondering which way would be correct and second guessing everything!

Too late to do this now, but on an engine that hasn't been crankend in that many years, I would recommend soaking the cylinders with penetrating oil and using a rocker bar to manually turn the engine over and make sure everything is moving. If things are bound up or any rust inside, you can damage the engine on first start but save it otherwise. Just heads up for next time.

Well, got it running, engine sounds fine and oil looked ok after changing it......tranny a little dark but ok.....but vdrive is a vanilla milkshake now. luckily it idled to boat ramp 10 mins away without any issue, again just forward idle. At that time when i put it on the trailer and brought it home the oil looked a little cloudy but not terrible. I decided I would hook boat up to a hose, warm it up and drain the vdrive, but when put in forward or reverse it cuts off the engine, pull back to neutral engine fires itself back up, bump in forward and reverse it stalls engine. So I then drained the v drive and noticed the vanilla milkshake. What would you guys do next? 2001 Super Air walter rv-26d vdrive. thanks guys!

They are not exactly growing on trees used. There is/was one on Chicago Craigslist. I might pull that cracked cover and take a look inside for more damage. Not much under that cover anyway.
Was the milk shake in the trans or the vdrive?

milkshake was in vdrive,,,,,,,checked trans fluid although it is dark it seems fine knock on wood

Do you see any cracks inside that cooling chamber? Kinda think there will be one. It would be an easy fix if the oil cooling tube was just damaged but if it was I would think you'd see oil in the exhaust or at least oil milkshake under that cover. I looked for that one on CL but it wasn't on there. I have seen it listed on there before,it seems to come and go since it hadn't sold. Really not even sure what ratio it is either

I have heard of people that weld Cast Iron, as I recall it is a very special process where it has to be pre heated before the weld. Some have welded on Cast Iron Cylinder heads so it can be done but cost was prohibitive.   Not sure if your broken part could be welded but worth a check. Glad you got it running.

Yea can't post pictures from a phone or pad or at least easily. I think you have a current leak because if it had been the PO I would think you'd have rust issues on some of the bearings and gears where the water has sat.

Ran the boat at low idle today with some slight acceleration but mostly just cruised in forward idle or under light acceleration and it seemed to run fine. Vdrive tranny and engine fluids looked good will check again tomorrow evening. The only weird thing is it seems to put out a lot of white smoke or steam with a noticeable exhaust smell. There was probably 5 gallons of old gas and I added 25 gallons of fresh fuel and a can of sea foam. Seems to run good besides the noticeable heavy steam or white smoke and smell. I would caution everyone when you unload your boat and park the tow vehicle to immediately check your temp gauges. I got to the boat as it was idling and it had climbed to 180, wasn’t pulling water probably an air pocket....I shut it down for a minute and retightened water strainer, cranked it and thankfully it immediately started pulling water again and the temp dropped back to a steady 150ish range and stayed there as I idled the boat around the cove for an hour. I’m thinking and hoping it’s just cleaning out the fuel system since it hadn’t ran in 8 years. Changed all fluids before i took it to the lake. Do the 2001 super air Nautiques with 5.7 pcm gt40 engines produce that much steam or smell strong exhaust always? My previous 2002 sky supreme with mercruiser 350 mag never did have quite that much smell or steam but it was dual exhaust. Love the way the engine sounds on the pcm 5.8 gt40. Thanks for feedback guys loving the resto!

Thank you typo!      It was 150 range not 120!