The price of those pumps was the reason I removed it all and went with a standard pump. I didn’t want him to have to deal with a bad expensive pump down the road. As you say, they work find with the oil part disconnected though. If I remember right, there was still a place on the block to mount the old style standard pump. It’s been a few years though, so….. 
AKA Outlaw Outboards in Fallon, Nv
Now in Twain Harte, Ca