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Timing Cover replacement


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My motor was recently rebuilt. The replacement timing cover on the 350 is plastic (junk). It has the built in timing gasket and front seal. I had a small oil leak at the front seal which was caused by the hole where the front seal is not aligning perfectly center with the crankshaft. So, there was a little gap at the top of the front seal where the harmonic balancer attaches. Basically the oil pan gasket up front is so thick it was pushing up on the timing cover enough to create a 1-2mm gap.

My question, is there a metal aftermarket one that is compatible?

Napa says no, but I would like to see if the BU crew knows anything more.

The boat is a 2002 RLX with HH365. Aftermarket replacement calls for a timing cover from a '97-'99 chevy 350.

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I've built lots of GM Votrec series engines and have tried different combinations to keep from buying a $70.00 cover each time. The most reliable fix is to buy a new cover. Dont try to replace the seal. You can re-silicone (is that a word?) the cover with good results if it wasn't leaking before.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Any same year small block Chevy should work, they didn't make a bunch of different castings of the standard 350 block those years.

Summit

Weird, the timing cover that is PLASTIC that is on these Malibus only has 8 bolts. All of the "after market" metal ones have at least 10 bolts.

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Any same year small block Chevy should work, they didn't make a bunch of different castings of the standard 350 block those years.

Summit

Weird, the timing cover that is PLASTIC that is on these Malibus only has 8 bolts. All of the "after market" metal ones have at least 10 bolts.

Like this one or This one ? the only blocks with 8 bolt timing covers.

Edited by bigD
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Any same year small block Chevy should work, they didn't make a bunch of different castings of the standard 350 block those years.

Summit

Weird, the timing cover that is PLASTIC that is on these Malibus only has 8 bolts. All of the "after market" metal ones have at least 10 bolts.

Like this one or This one ? the only blocks with 8 bolt timing covers.

Exactly like those and both PLASTIC...ugh

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Any same year small block Chevy should work, they didn't make a bunch of different castings of the standard 350 block those years.

Summit

Weird, the timing cover that is PLASTIC that is on these Malibus only has 8 bolts. All of the "after market" metal ones have at least 10 bolts.

Like this one or This one ? the only blocks with 8 bolt timing covers.

Exactly like those and both PLASTIC...ugh

Actually the plastic timing chain covers are an improvement in a marine engine. In the old days when we used steel timing chain covers, it was impossible to get a good coat of paint on the cover because the water circulating pump was in the way. Timing chains rusting through ... expecially in salt water applications was not uncommon. During those same days, the oil pans were not painted before they came to us so rusting oil pans where the pan is covered by the bell housing was pretty common also. Now the oil pans are e-coated before they are installed on the engine and corrosion of the pan is greatly reduced.

Engine Nut

Indmar Marine Engines

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Any same year small block Chevy should work, they didn't make a bunch of different castings of the standard 350 block those years.

Summit

Weird, the timing cover that is PLASTIC that is on these Malibus only has 8 bolts. All of the "after market" metal ones have at least 10 bolts.

Like this one or This one ? the only blocks with 8 bolt timing covers.

Exactly like those and both PLASTIC...ugh

Actually the plastic timing chain covers are an improvement in a marine engine. In the old days when we used steel timing chain covers, it was impossible to get a good coat of paint on the cover because the water circulating pump was in the way. Timing chains rusting through ... expecially in salt water applications was not uncommon. During those same days, the oil pans were not painted before they came to us so rusting oil pans where the pan is covered by the bell housing was pretty common also. Now the oil pans are e-coated before they are installed on the engine and corrosion of the pan is greatly reduced.

Engine Nut

Indmar Marine Engines

Thanks for the info Larry.

I think the problem is the Oil pan gasket was replaced and I am thinking NOT with the right one for this application. The front where the oil pan gasket meets the bottom of the timing cover, the gasket is so thick, when you tighten the Oil pan up front, it presses the plastic cover upwards and warps it ever so slightly(1-2MM "gap" at top of seal). This results in a small oil leak at the front bearing seal when the Harmonic balances goes to the crankshaft.

We tried removing the timing cover, trimmed the oil pan gasket up front a little, re-siliconed and got the basic same results. Our next plan of attack is removing everything again and either trimming more gasket or see if the front of the oil pan has a replaceable separate gasket from the rest of the oil pan. The gasket that was used is blue rubber type and iit looks like it goes all the way around the oil pan.....ugh!

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