65-67 .BB Timing Covers

[Raymond G.]

I just want someone to educate us on the applications for different timing covers and tabs used. I've asked a few people and learned very little. Any help would be appreciated. I have several early covers, no dowel holes, and want to sort them out.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

I just want someone to educate us on the applications for different timing covers and tabs used. I've asked a few people and learned very little. Any help would be appreciated. I have several early covers, no dowel holes, and want to sort them out.

Hi Raymond -- here's an identifier that just crossed my mind. Per Chevrolet Service News (May 1967)
"A new oil pan front seal was used in production on all BB engines, as of Dec 21, 1966. Center bolt hole in the pan was deleted, and the rubber "protrusion" (I'd call it a tit) of the seal inserts into the timing cover hole"

"Do not attempt to remove the weld nut from the front cover flange". I'll guess that this nut was replaced with just a hole for the tit shortly thereafter. Here's a shot of the square weld nut in the cover.

[Michael J.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Good detective work Wayne!

[Guest]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Hello Raymond, Can you post a couple pictures of the non dowel hole covers you have?

Thanks
Rob

[Raymond G.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Rob, I don't know how to attach photos on my thread or maybe you know how or I can send them directly to you via your email

[Don H.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Raymond
here is part of the answer that you can find in the FAQ link in the small tool bar just above the first thread.

How do I post a Photo?
Photos can be posted by clicking on the image in the editor screen..
This will bring up a box where you can browse on your computer for the image you wish to upload, or you can upload an image from a URL. URL is a link directly to the photo from a location on the internet.
There are limits to the size and number of photos allowed to be posted. Full size camera images would soon fill the server’s storage space.
Typical camera photos can be from 5 to 15 megabytes in size. The limit for posting here is 300 kilobytes. If the photo is larger than that the server will resize it to 800px x 600 px. A typical photo I tested from my camera was 12.4 meg in size. 2544 X 1696 pixels. That is 35 inches by 23.5 inches in size. That means that you would have to scroll your screen from top to bottom and from side to side to see the entire picture.

[Raymond G.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Here are 3 images

[Wayne L.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Ray-
The cover with the shorter timing tab is 1965. The cover with the longer tab is 1966-67. Both covers have no dowel holes but do have the captured nut at the bottom for the 1/4-20 bolt that comes up through the front lip of the oil pan.
Wayne

[Guest]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Ray could you post picture of timing markers?

[Raymond G.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Thanks Wayne,
That short tab cover is for a 7" balancer so we can rule out the L78 Corvette. My '65 396 has the longer rectangular tab with no angle cut.
I have one report that the '66 390 hp uses the short tab so we need more 390 hp owners to come up
Therefore so far:
'65 L78 - long rectangular tab
'66-67 425-435 hp long angle cut tab
'66-67 390 hp short or long tab

[Guest]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

A L78 has a very distinct timing marker on a non doweled cover, I believe it is only for the 65 L78 (396). The 7" tabs are much different even if one was to think just grind spot welds and raise it up 1/2 inch. The tab that I've seen is (1 11/16) long, about 5/8 in depth, only A 0 on tab with 11 timing markers, I have never seen a original longer timing tab on a 65 L78 396.

[Raymond G.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

I measured my 396 tab on the car and the tab is just about 1 9/16" long with the A 0 markings. Another 396 friend says that his measures the same. Just the same thanks for bringing it to my attention. Since it appears longer than the short tab I assumed that it was 2 1/8" long.

[Guest]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

1 9/16 is correct

[Wayne L.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

Ray-
I should have gone out and looked at the timing cover on 5117654 before I added to the thread yesterday. The timing tab measures 1/2" x 1-13/16". This short block is now assembled with the original 8" dia. harmonic balancer. The tab has 11 timing marks. Counting from the lower edge, the "0" is at the 3rd mark up, the "A" is at the 6th mark, and the 8th mark is deeper and longer than the other 10 timing marks.
Before I put the short block together, I inspected the cover carefully. Nothing had been changed. Everything on the engine appears original including the carburetor, water pump, etc. Bill Mock confirmed that the water pump had never been apart, etc. By the way, I am using the cam I bought from you along with another timing cover, pulley, etc.
So, is this another variation?

[Raymond G.]

Re: 65-67 .BB Timing Covers

I am sure that it is. In trying to get the right parts I've found variations. My '66 BB a/c lower support brackets are one year only and a lot of folks don't know that, but the repros that you get really are for '67 on up. Then there are these shims that are used with the motor mounts a/c 427's that are one year only but what you get are shims that are thinner that came out in late '66.