OMC Cobra water pump question

[WendellNLA]

I recently acquired a Seaswirl Tempo 17’ with 4.3 OMC stern drive.
I am going through the motions and trying to make sure it’s seaworthy.
Bought replacement water pump kit(West Marine) and the pump housing is different, having a 90 degree barbed fitting. The housing I took off, did not have a fitting, but instead a tiny odd shaped hole with what appears to be a small rock embedded in it.
There is a hole in case below pump that has a rubber breather in the hole.
Old pump housing appears to be in decent shape, just not sure of hole.
If anyone has any thoughts, that would be great.

 

[Lou C]

Dump the one with the rock in the hole lol. You can use the other one which judging by the box is a Sierra. Better yet get a whole OEM OMC housing and impeller kit I’ve installed a number of these over the years and never had a bad one…
For OE:
marine engine dot com
Crowley marine dot com

 

[WendellNLA]

For now I will install the Sierra pump assy, if I can figure out what to do with the barbed fitting. There is no hose to hook to it. All the pumps that fit based on part number look up, have the barbed elbo fitting. But this stern drive has no hose, just what appears to be a rubber breather insert.

 

[Lou C]

well the hose is just to route the water flow down the exhaust so it doesn't look like water is leaking out of the upper gear housing. When replacing these I like to use some thick marine grease to hold the o ring gasket in place in the housing, so it doesn't shift out of place. Lube the impeller with a mix of dawn dish soap and water. Leave the cover off the upper gear housing so you can see if water leaks out around the housing when its running on the water hose. For the first start after replacing the impeller I like to hook up the muffs, turn on the water but before starting I take a plastic bottle of water and dawn dish soap and pour it into the hose from the thermostat housing to the transom. This puts water and lube right in the impeller housing and it elimiates wear from starting it dry. I also do this on the first start of the season when re-commissioning the boat.