Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

[jjohanson]

Hi all, I'm having some trouble finding a replacement timing chain for my mercruiser 888 ford 302. Ive searched here and google with no luck. Is this something I can just grab from an auto part store for a 68 mustang?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

Timing chain for a 302 should be pretty basic. Summit racing, jegs, etc should all have a replacement chain, or chain/sprocket set, it's not a marine-specific part.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

...mercruiser 888 ford 302...

haul has the right idea regarding parts.

I want to caution you that you are mixing engine names, and what you typed doesn't exist. The 302 Ford was called the 188 when used by Mercruiser. An 888 is a 305 Chevy used by Mercruiser. That may have been part of you search problem?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

haul has the right idea regarding parts.

I want to caution you that you are mixing engine names, and what you typed doesn't exist. The 302 Ford was called the 188 when used by Mercruiser. An 888 is a 305 Chevy used by Mercruiser. That may have been part of you search problem?

Nope,.... The 888 is a Ford, the Chevy 305 was the 898...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

Nope,.... The 888 is a Ford, the Chevy 305 was the 898...

^This. The 302 was 188HP, which is the last two digits of "888". The Chevy 305 had 198HP, hence the "898" namesake.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

The 888 is a ford 302, and for many years, came with 351w heads and cam (hence why they use the 351w firing order instead of a normal 302)....the trickier question is whether these 888 were the normal 302 imbalance of 28oz, or did they have the 50oz imbalance....
really only matters if you have to change harmonic balancer and flywheel

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

I believe the imbalance on the 888's were 28oz, same as the 351w. The change to 50oz didn't occur until sometime in the early 80's, long after Mercruiser quit using Ford power. It would be an issue if it was a reman engine, or on the late-80's/early 90's Ford-powered Volvos and direct drives.

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

Or you can ditch the chain and go with a gear drive.
Summit Racing Street & Strip? Gear Drives SUM-G6711 - SummitRacing.com

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

Nope,.... The 888 is a Ford, the Chevy 305 was the 898...

Ooops, my bad.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

Or you can ditch the chain and go with a gear drive.
Summit Racing Street & Strip? Gear Drives SUM-G6711 - SummitRacing.com

Lol, yeah. Nothing like making a simple item into a complex item! He needs to swap to some roller rockers, too, and maybe a dry sump oil pan.

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

Don't need all the other stuff; but like a chain, gears don't stretch. Do it once and be done with it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 888 Timing Chain?

Don't need all the other stuff; but like a chain, gears don't stretch. Do it once and be done with it.

Ayuh,... Right,... Gears Wear out, 'n make a 'ell of a Noise....

Gears also transmit alot more harmonic vibrations that chains don't...

A timing chain will generally last the life of a motor, several Thousand hours...