62 FI Correct Timing Cover

[Clark C.]

Can someone post a picture of the correct timing cover for a 62 FI engine. I thought I had an original cover but mine has only 10 marks on timing tab. NCRS Technical Manual states it should have 11. Is there an aftermarket supplier that reproduces a correct, by NCRS standards, cover? I have not been able to find a good used one.

[Loren L.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Clark, the balancer on the 360 may have been a running change to the 8" balancer, which uses a different cover. Check the JG or tickle Mike Ernst and give him the VIN of your car.

[Clark C.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Thanks for your response. I found a picture on an earlier post of a timing cover on a 340 HP which showed the the timing tab welded facing away from the balancer rather than the tab being covered by the balancer. I am trying to verify that the tab is welded above the balancer is correct for my Vette. My 62 Vette is an early car built in November 61, serial #3383. I've not been able to find an original or repro with timing cover with tab facing away from the balancer. My balancer is 8 inches. Thanks again.

[Barry H.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Clark, My 360 HP FI engine F1121RF has the timing tab welded to the cover above the 8" damper, not behind it.
Barry Holmes

[Clark C.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Thanks for the response. The good news....that varifies what I thought was correct. The bad news is finding a correct one while redoing the engine. Is the tab pointed on one end and does it have 11 timing marks?

[Barry H.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Clark, I will check tomorrow, A little hard to see details with engine in & hood on. Your s/n is close to mine, what is your engine build date?
Barry

[Clark C.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

I believe it is 11/21

[Barry H.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Clark,
Checked my car this am, It has 11 lines, 2 small, then 1 heavy, with the O, then 4 small, then 1 heavy with the A, then 3 small. Adds up to 11. Exactly the same as the picture C-10-19 on page 230 of the new 61/62 Judging Manual 6th Edition.
Corvette Carlisle is coming up, good luck in your search for the correct Timing Cover. I will keep my eyes open. (should be the same as a 340 HP). Barry

[Mike E.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Clark,
Sorry I'm slow. Here is the original off the car 7 after yours. Barry's is 22 before. This should help.

[Clark C.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Thanks Mike,

Is your timing tab attached above the damper, rather behind it, as well and does it have 11 timing marks? I can't tell by the picture. Thanks again.

[Clark C.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

Thanks Barry,

Mike Ernst sent me a picture of his tab. I saw the picture in JG but just wanted to be sure since I just assembled the engine and was hoping I didn't have a problem with the cover. Oh well, at least it is not in the car. It is amazing the two people who responded have cars built on the same day as mine. Small world sometimes. I read somewhere that when they went to the 8 inch balancer they just moved the tab up and didn't change the marks which would have caused the the timing to be wrong....which was corrected later. Do you know if there is any truth to this?

[Duke W.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

I know on '63 SHP/FI engines the timing tab reads about 15-20 percent low, so if you set it at 12 it's really closer to 10. That's one reason why I recommend setting total WOT advance with a dial back timing light.

I don't think this issue was corrected on engines with 8" torsional dampers until the timing tab was changed to the bolt-on type, circa 1969.

The issue has been discussed before.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 FI Correct Timing Cover

I know on '63 SHP/FI engines the timing tab reads about 15-20 percent low, so if you set it at 12 it's really closer to 10. That's one reason why I recommend setting total WOT advance with a dial back timing light.

I don't think this issue was corrected on engines with 8" torsional dampers until the timing tab was changed to the bolt-on type, circa 1969.

The issue has been discussed before.

Duke

Duke------


There were definitely at least 2 different timing tabs used for pre-1968 small blocks------one for engines with ~6" balancers and one for ~8" balancers. The 2 tabs were similar in configuration. However, the one for ~6" balancers had 11 degree marks while the one for ~8" balancers had 10 degree marks. I suppose if one finds a tab for an ~8" balancer with 11 degree marks that would indicate that the wrong tab was installed on that timing cover, most likely from the factory. The marked face of both tabs was flat.

I have seen these timing tabs with the welded-on portion oriented "90 degrees up" and some with it oriented "90 degrees down". I have no idea what is "correct" for any given year and application. Functionally, there is no difference.

For 1969, the timing mark on the balancers changed for small blocks. The tabs also changed. They were still welded-on but the configuration was different and the marked portion was curved. All 1969-70 Corvette small blocks used an 8" balancer but the thickness differed for 300 HP versus L-46. The timing cover and tab was the same for both engines. It was stamped "A" "O" "R" and had 15 degree marks.

The change to the bolted on tab occurred for the 1971 model year, although some late 1970's might have used it, too.

By the way, while the bolt-on tabs were once available from GM, the welded-on tabs were never available separately from the timing covers from GM.