I've always tackled things that I wasn't prepared for. I'm self taught on rebuilding engines. The first automatic transmission I rebuilt was a turbo 350 and I had enough money for the kit, a new torque converter and a case of fluid. It was the early '80s and I went to the downtown Tulsa library and made 11 pages of copies. It called for special tool this and special tool that. For releasing the springs on the clutch pack, I simply used allthread, fender washers and wing nuts to compress it enough to release the snap ring. I've rebuilt at least 3 700R4 trannys. I find an automatic is much easier to mess with than a standard.
As for this project or any Marine motor, Kelly Davis has helped me immensly in guidance. I can never thank him enough. I ain't askeered to tackle any project cause I figure if a man built it, then I ought to be able to work on it regardless of my experience. It took me 6 attemps to get a nice paint job on the Harley. It was the graphics that were killing me. But now, I know I could strip the bike down, repaint it how I want it and have it back together in a week.
Today I pulled the shelled lower unit. Pretty easy job other than getting to the shift rod screw. May have to take both lower units apart since the debris screens on the replacment have big holes in them and the ones in the original do not. Just hope I don't have to press anything. Don't think I could McGiver that one with what I have around the shop. Will inspect impeller. Person in Ark said it was new, I'll be able to tell how new it is, other wise, I'll make sure it's new.