Re: 7.5hp OMC base gasket question

[Don]

quote Mumbles:

The gasket in your photo looks like a ’59 and later 313065 gasket which has been slightly modified by being slotted on the left side. These gaskets for thermostat motors have a hole in them for the cooling water and aren’t open in this area like the ’56 – ’58 304314 gaskets are. I really don’t think it makes much difference which gasket you use as the water seems to find its way thru here easily. The hole might have been meant to be a restrictor to help keep the motor at a certain temperature, but I’m not sure. Even one BRP 313065 gasket I bought sure looks a lot like a 304314 gasket, and that’s in a sealed package!

I’m with mumbles, I don’t understand why there are two different gaskets for these 56-present models. Yes, I realize the 59 and later models use a thermostat, but that shouldn’t make any difference. I can’t see the harm in using the gasket with the completely open passage on either version on this powerhead design. Using the less restrictive gasket would ensure no debris gets caught in the little hole in the gasket…Oh well, just one of the things I wonder about instead of doing things I should be doing….