[cfelton]

Djfam, did the water come from the valve cover vent connected to the flame arrester on top of the carb? Check the oil on the dipstick, see if its milky. Also see if theres oil in the coolant reservoir on top of the exhaust manifold, and was there good antifreeze in the cooling system. I'll try ta help you figure out where your trouble is. I completely rebuilt my 170 Mercruiser 3 years ago and helped my buddy rebuild his last summer, both are running strong. I love these old motors. You can still buy parts for these motors, sometimes it takes a little searching. Ive got alot of parts dealers on a list if ya need them! I had ta buy a new Mercruiser reservoir for mine when I rebuilt it. Good luck!