'72 Merc 888 Repower Options

[bryantcm]

Looking for some advice/guidance. I bought a 1972 Sea Ray SRV 220 with the Ford 302 Merc 888. I really like the hull and planned to spend about $5K and some sweat equity to restore it. Currently the outdrive is stuck in reverse and the shift cable is broken, so I have not been able to determine that it runs. I was told by the seller that it ran a few months ago before the incident with the cable and drive.

I took the boat to a friend's trusted marine mechanic and I was advised that I would be better off repowering the boat. He offered me a late 90's Sea Ray repo that was rotted out but had a good 4.3L with a recently rebuilt outdrive for $1000 w/no trailer, plus $2,000 labor to do the swap complete with trim, steering and guages.

So, as I see it here are my options:

1. Get another opinion and have another mechanic tinker with what I've got and potentially get it running or spend way too much chasing problems.
2. Spend $3K to swap to a 205hp 4.3L. The original motor has 188hp, so I'm assuming the 4.3 will be ample.
3. Replace with a rebuilt 302 and SEI outdrive and spend close to $5K for new stuff with a warranty. Not sure I want to committ this much to just the power for this boat.

Any advice from those that have been there would be appreciated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: '72 Merc 888 Repower Options

Ayuh,.... Considering that You're not doin' the Work,.... I'll take Door #2...

It won't be any powerhouse, but it'll all be Updated by 20 years...

 

[bryantcm]

Re: '72 Merc 888 Repower Options

Thanks Bond-o. That was the way I was leaning. I guess I was just overly optimistic that I would get lucky when I bought the boat. I have actually been offered some help in the form of guidance and assistance from a guy who used to work on boats but can't any longer due to his health.

I have access to a hoist to swap the motors and am not afraid of the work. I've rebuilt a couple of car motors and I have the tools, I'm just not familiar with marine systems.

I have read that the physical swapping is pretty easy, four bolts at the transom and the motor mounts, but how difficult would it be to swap a completely different motor?

Thanks

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: '72 Merc 888 Repower Options

The 350 V8 and merc alpha one is really a better idea. A 4.3L will be lack luster in a 22 footer. Plus sea ray made some nice thick boats back then that have some weight to them. I personally would spend just tad more and get the 350. This will be a similar fit space wise to your 302.

Not to mention the 350 must have the BEST parts availabilty, not that the 4.3L is bad.....

 

[bryantcm]

Re: '72 Merc 888 Repower Options

The 350 V8 and merc alpha one is really a better idea. A 4.3L will be lack luster in a 22 footer. Plus sea ray made some nice thick boats back then that have some weight to them. I personally would spend just tad more and get the 350. This will be a similar fit space wise to your 302.

Not to mention the 350 must have the BEST parts availabilty, not that the 4.3L is bad.....

I agree that a 350 would be nice, but I'm not sure that it will be just a tad more. I'm being offered a 4.3L complete for not much more than a good used outdrive. I don't know that I am going to find a complete late 90's donor boat with a 350 anywhere near that money. Besides, the 4.3 has 20+ more hp than what the boat was powered with from the factory.

I'm thinking for my use which is just cruising up and down the river with my wife and daughter and pulling them on a tube or ski's that the 4.3 would be fine. Or am I wrong?

According to the specs, the boat weighs 3400# and the power options were 165-240hp.

 

[mkast]

Re: '72 Merc 888 Repower Options

I'm thinking for my use which is just cruising up and down the river with my wife and daughter and pulling them on a tube or ski's that the 4.3 would be fine. Or am I wrong?

The V6 will be less than desirable, even with the 20 horsepower increase.
Have replaced 302's with 351's much to the owner's delight, more than adequate power.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: '72 Merc 888 Repower Options

From what I've read, there are no practical differences between the Alpha I and the 888 drive that you have. They both will handle the same HP, and a broken shift cable is easily remedied. If you go with a 351, it is a direct swap, so all of the accessories will swap over, and you get 260+HP just like the 350 if you want to move to a 4bbl carb. With the 2bbl carb on your 302, you'd be looking at 233HP on the 351w.

I can't see anything bad about having the 302/351 Fords in boats. There are exhaust manifolds readily avalable, and Ford small block parts are just as available as 350 small block parts. I would pass on the V6, since you'd have to chage out every thing from the inside wall forward.