way easier than a V6 merc.
leave it in N.
remove the speedo connector.
remove the trim tab.
from underneath remove the bolt hidden by the trim tab.
remove the 3 bolts on each side.
drop the case.

the tricky part is the lock collar and retainer above the water pump and the pump key.
both I have posted on extensively.
beware of some of the you tube things and such as some of it is plain wrong and others not a good practice.

Lock collar?

Thanks rod for your comeback. I checked your posts and not finding info on lock collar and retainer. Sounds like impeller key can be a problem to.This is salt water boat. How do you get the collar and retainer off and imp key ? Thanks Smiley I will be working on it this weekend.

collar and retainer removal

once the gearcase is off and secured and the water pump removed.

1 if it came off with the housing reinstall the impeller cup over the impeller.

2 using 2 large screwdrivers and using the cup as a fulcrum point pry off the collar.
works best if you rotate the blades and push the coller up while simultaneously pusing the plastic retainer down.
2a
if the collar fights me more than 3 trys I use a medium very sharp chisel and a 32oz ball peen and simply cut the collar off.

3 remove the impeller and 3 washers. 2 flat washers and 1 wave washer. save the washers.

now the key, here is what whacks a bunch of folks.
take another medium chisel.
DULL the cutting edge so its about 1/16th thick. fairly dull as we DO NOT want this chisel to cut PERIOD.
1 lay the chisel horizontal at the BASE of the key.
2 using aforementioned 32oz hammer, drive the BASE of the key inwards.
3 now bring the chisel down PARRALELL with the drive shaft and catch the top of the key with the wide side of the chisel and drive it out.
key should start rolling out of the top not being driven down.
3a remember we are trying to ROLL a woodruff key with a sometimes insanely tight fit OUT of the keyway.

NEVER EVER EVER attempt it with a drift punch or a tapered punch.
all I ever see that do is tighten up the key in the keyway.
now remover the wear plate,remove the upper driveshaft oil slinger.
carefully inspect the seal,especially the garter spring. here is where a good pick or small screwdriver helps.
that seal set fails fairly often.

to reinstall the key,AFTER the slinger,gasket and wearplate are installed.
use a brass or AL drift to seat the new key.
DO NOT USE steel drivers on that key.

install the water pump.
now install 1 flat washer,1 wave washer, the last flat washer.

slide on the retainer.
slide the collar on.
now while pulling UP on the shaft simultaneously drive the collar down( an open end wrench will suffice).

all that fancy washer collar arrangement does is keeps the driveshaft preloaded against the thrust bearing.
fail to install it or install it correctly, may lead to an annoying in gear at idle shft knock.
wont hurt anything its just annoying.

and that my friend is the easiest simplest way I know to do it.
if I hustle I can typically do it in about an hour unless I have to do drive shaft seals as well.
that typically adds 30 min unless we have stuck/broken fasteners.

the retainer and collar is not part of the pump kit and if needed must be purchased seperatly.