boat motor wiring

[marquisman]

since my free marine 302 that i put in the boat dident have a wire harness, i took the harness off the old 165 merc and adapting it to the 302. everything was straight forward except one wire(gaget you might be able to help) i got a white resistance wire that goes to the + side of the coil then a tan wire that ran off the + side of the coil to the (resistance side of the starter?) terminal labeled "R". the question i have is where do i hook this up since im not dealing with GM style starter solonoids, i jus have the one instead of two of em....help!lol

[87lxcoupe]

My family had a '79 (?) Sea Ray with a Ford 302 in it. Talk about basic engine, wow! Wish I could help ya out with your wiring problem, but all I remember about that engine was the large, cast iron risers on either side of the engine. For some reason they just stick out in my head. Your post just sparked a long forgotten memory, that's all.

[gadget73]

is this electronic ignition or what? If its points, there should be a wire from the + on the coil to the I terminal on the starter relay. This will not be the resistance wire. The resistor wire will go from the + side of the coil to wherever your key switched hot is. Mercruisers usually use a purple wire for key hot. Honestly I've never had my hands on a Mercruiser Ford combo, so I really can't tell you with any certainty what colors you're looking for. Might just have to break out the test light and meter it out.

I'm not sure what the R terminal on the starter (relay I assume?) would be for. Normally they're marked S and I. S is the momentary key switch, I is ignition power to the coil. Its only got power while cranking. Basically its to bypass the resistor wire and give full power to the coil for easier starting. The battery voltage is drawn down by the starter, so without that it probably wont have enough oomph to actually fire anything. Cars with points have the same stuff.

[OVERKILL]

is this electronic ignition or what? If its points, there should be a wire from the + on the coil to the I terminal on the starter relay. This will not be the resistance wire. The resistor wire will go from the + side of the coil to wherever your key switched hot is. Mercruisers usually use a purple wire for key hot. Honestly I've never had my hands on a Mercruiser Ford combo, so I really can't tell you with any certainty what colors you're looking for. Might just have to break out the test light and meter it out.

I'm not sure what the R terminal on the starter (relay I assume?) would be for. Normally they're marked S and I. S is the momentary key switch, I is ignition power to the coil. Its only got power while cranking. Basically its to bypass the resistor wire and give full power to the coil for easier starting. The battery voltage is drawn down by the starter, so without that it probably wont have enough oomph to actually fire anything. Cars with points have the same stuff.

Your info is dead-nuts accurate gadget, my '78 Glasstron has a Mercruiser "888" in it, which is a 302/stern-drive combo, has old-casting 351w heads on it (stock for that motor) and a lovely 2bbl Holley. It was rated at 212HP I believe if I remember correctly. It's setup pretty much exactly as you described it.

[turbo2256b]

i HAV A 351 MERC about that year in the back all coverd up might have the wiring on it still need info?

[marquisman]

i got the wiring figured out, and got the through hull exaust done and sounds bad ass for a 74 glastron, lol it goes in the water today