impeller or no impeller on freshwater cooled

[rmcustoms]

hello all, need some help. i have a 1985 26ft harborcraft with 260hp 350 and alpha one gen 1 drive. the boat is freshwater cooled.(has a water pickup on the transom) just boat a new lower unit for the boat. question i have is.... do i still need the impeller in the lower unit or do i need to remove it?

 

[Bt Doctur]

The water pulled thru the drive by the impeller helps cool the drive`s oil, so leave the impeller and cut the hose

 

[rmcustoms]

so, does the water just stay in the lower unit or will it fill into the boat somehow?

 

[Bt Doctur]

. the boat is freshwater cooled.(has a water pickup on the transom)

That tells me you have a heat exchanger and the motor uses regular A/F for the coolant . If it is a 1/2 system, the impeller in the drive is needed for the raw water to get into the heat exchanger(HX). If the motor is a full system, engine and manifolds then it needs an engine mounted raw water pump and a thru hull fitting.
What system do you have?