Hi guys snowmobile projects put away now boat projects start again. i bought a new outdrive for my 1983 470 merc. i'm replacing a I-R version with a SE106. My question is when i removed the old out drive and separated the top and bottom end the two surfaces from both ends that are press against each other they were bare metal the new ouitdrive the surfaces are painted, should it be bare metal for better seal or what should i do?
here are the pictures of new outdrive
here are the pictures of new outdrive