What year 305 mercruiser?

[stevehodge504]

Can I put any year 305 mercruiser in my 96 2300 sc my motors got a rod knocking?

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[shrew]

The considerations would most likely be the wiring harness connectors. Depending on the year, you MIGHT need a piece that joins the two. Otherwise, I don't see why not. I placed a 2008 8.1 (496) to replace my 1997 7.4 (454).

[stevehodge504]

Thank you

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[pascavone]

what was the better performance with the 8.1 over the 7.4?

did you change your prop also?

[shrew]

I kept the 24P prop. The gear ratio of the drive is the same, so overall there's not a lot of change. WAY more torque. Faster planing times. The big difference is in the fuel injection. That and in seas the engine doesn't spool up and down. In the 454, you'd loose RPM and speed climbing up and down waves in rough weather. That doesn't occur, there is no slowing and hesitancy as it tries to spool back up again. It just holds the RPMs steady regardless.