Cooling System Question

[bigdawg]

I have a 1969 OMC that I just purchased.
My question is this. When I start the engine cold out of the water with the "muff" hooked up to the water pickup in the outdrive (the single pickup is at the bottom of the outdrive right behind the prop on the 1969) should I get a stream of water out of the discharge port immediately or does the engine thermostat have to open first? I have a 3.7 Liter 225 CID 155 hp Buick Kaiser Jeep/AMC engine if that makes any difference.
According to the 1970 genuine OMC Service Manual quote,"In the event that the engine coolant is cold, as in first starting up, the thermostat will be closed and will not allow any of the water to pass for eventual discharge overboard. It seems in my1985 OMC that the water shot out of the discharge port as soon as I started it but that as been 20 years ago and my memory ain't that good.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
One last quick question. Would you recommend a Clmer or Seyloc Service Manual for a 1969 Sterndrive?

Thanks, Sean

[jimslade]

The water will still bypass the engines internall cooling passages and come out the exhaust manifolds.

[bigdawg]

Thank you sir. Much appreciated.
Sorry about the delay in a reesponse but I've been under the weather the last week or so.

Sean