Replacing Seven speed casette

frankblackcat

I'm needing to replace the cassette (and chain and chain rings) on my hybrid, which is an elderly 7 speed Shimano LX. Question is, will any Shimano 7 speed cassette fit, i.e. LX is mountain bike can I fit a road cassette?
Second question, could I fit an 8 speed on the same hub? I'm using old thumb shifters (rapid fire disintergrated ages ago) and I believe they can work 8 speed (please say if I'm wrong tho).
And lastly, can anyone recommend a chain other than the Shimano. Got Connex on my other bike and am happy with that.

Any advice greatly apreciated

John.T

You can not fit an 8 sp cassette to a 7sp hub. You can fit 8,9 or 10 to the later hubs which have a wider freehub.
KMC chains are getting good reports. Mine works well.