Well I'm without my boat for a week or two, sucked up some junk and overheated the top two cylinders causing scoring. Motor is in the shop for a full rebuild. I've always done all my own work on my boat motors but I thought this one deserved a professional. I'm having the VRO pump replaced while its in along with the usual carb rebuild and water pump replacement. When I get it out, I'll do a full break in as if it was new.

Anyone else have experience with engine rebuilds and is there anything else I should do while its in or once I get it back?

My only suggestion, bypass the VRO and premix. In my experience,they don't last long. I owned a boat with 70hp Johnson for about 5 years and went thru 3 pumps during that time. 

To many problems get blamed on the VRO. If you are replacing it with a new unit, I would not worry about the VRO. There have been many upgrades to the VRO's built prior to approx. 1999. Actually the new pumps are not VRO pumps, but CRO pumps. The pumps produced for the past decade are pretty much bullet proof. I actually reinstall new pumps on used motors I buy that someone has bypassed the pump on. For me, it's a lot nicer just having to add gas to the tank without having to mess with measuring and dumping oil in with it.

Now, some mechanics will not warrant a power head with the VRO/CRO installed. If they give you that song and dance routine, then you need to leave it disconnected during the warrantee period.