Expert opinion please Merc 888

[matt 57]

Greetings everybody.
Here is another guy with his first boat. I got '77 Classic 210. There is Mercruiser 888 ser. # 4654593 with Mercruiser I drive ser. #4875036.
I'd appreciate expert opinion on this motor and drive:
any weak points I'd pay special attention to, are there any hard to find parts, etc, basically anything you might want to say about it.
I've downloaded manual #2. Is this everything I need?
And a question about flush device, I need to get one as soon as possible.
Will the first available work just fine or should I look for something specific?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Expert opinion please Merc 888

Ayuh,.... Welcome aboard,.... You found a solid, popular combo...
SBC with sorta an Alpha drive,.... Pre-Alpha, but interchangable...
Lot's a parts, about everywhere,...
The water muffs are the Common 1s...

 

[matt 57]

Re: Expert opinion please Merc 888

Thank you, glad to hear that.
I'll be posting more specific questions later so please let me know what would be the best way to reference to my motor: Merc 888, 302, v8 5L or some other way to make things clear anough? The question might sound stupid but please understand that I'm absolutely new to this world and terminology.
Thank you.

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: Expert opinion please Merc 888

Not an expert but,
888 means sbf and 898 is sbc
So I'm sure if you say 888 with a 302 everyone will know what your talking about.
I sold my old 302 to a guy that needed it to replace his overheated 302/with Volvo leg...from the 70's. He said the original leg and engine had 4000 hours on it.
(for a boat that's phenomenal)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Expert opinion please Merc 888

888 means sbf and 898 is sbc

Ayuh,... Unfortunately,.... I Misread that.... I guess I saw 898....
Too Bad,....