Water in coupler bell housing

[matt167]

How can water get into the sealed coupler bell housing on a 3.0l? My 1986 3.0L I found about 2” of water there. I pulled the starter off to investigate the oil that appears to logically be a rear main.. I winterized the engine and the block is fine.

I’m going to drag another boat that is said to be water ready on Monday if it fully checks out mechanically being I don’t trust the engine I have without going fully through it at this point

 

[Scott Danforth]

Bell housing should not be sealed. However a leaking core plug could be the cause

 

[matt167]

Bell housing should not be sealed. However a leaking core plug could be the cause

This is why it’s concerning me. That’s what I thought. I pulled the starter to check on the rear main seal leak. There is grease in there as well, which doesn’t make me as nervous, but the grease could cause a seal.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Was the bilge ever flooded?

 

[matt167]

Was the bilge ever flooded?

The parts boat, I have no clue except possibly. That boat was so wet, and the bilge had a few inches of water standing in it when I pulled the motor. ( plug out ) I stored that boat with the motor cover over it and the mooring cover it came with, so it wasn’t flooded in my possession, but it was humidified because of it