Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

[Eric V.]

Attached are three pictures of a small block Chev timing cover for an 8" diameter damper. I am hoping that someone can identify the application for this cover and identify the coding (if any) of what appears to be a date code stamping, i.e., day/year, week/year, etc.? (I have another cover like this that is stamped 27 69). Thanks in advance for any help.
Eric V.

[Steve L.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

I just happen to be repainting mine.
All I have is "18" stamped where yours are stamped and it is the original from a 73

[Wayne M.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

Attached are three pictures of a small block Chev timing cover for an 8" diameter damper. I am hoping that someone can identify the application for this cover and identify the coding (if any) of what appears to be a date code stamping, i.e., day/year, week/year, etc.? (I have another cover like this that is stamped 27 69). .

Eric -- let me give the following opinion (I've got about a dozen pics of a similar one off eBay over the last 9 years, as I also have one [incorrect] on my small block '65). Haven't checked for a date yet, as I didn't know about this the last time the balancer was off (1983).

I'm of the understanding that these begain in 1969, for the Camaro Z28, the 350 hp Corvette and SS350 Chevrolets. The date stamping is probably (week) (year). I have pics of examples with 1_69 thru 30_69.

[Jack H.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

That's the accepted version of the '68-69 SB timing cover. Has the 'crows foot depression reinforcing ribs' in the timing tab that changed for '70 and later era. Some were date code stamped and I've seen others that weren't...

[Jack H.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

If you believe the JG books, it's thought that '68-69 had one timing tab format (as seen in the pix), then '70 had another tab format and both were welded to the cover.

Then, the timing tab was NOT welded to the cover and instead attached under the cover bolts for all later years EXCEPT '73 where it was again welded to the cover. Yeah, I know this sounds kind of dumb--why go from tabs welded to bolted to welded for one year, then back to bolted? But, hey, I don't write the JG descriptive text...

Supposedly, the '73 SB timing tab that was again welded looked like this...

[Steve L.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

If you believe the JG books, it's thought that '68-69 had one timing tab format (as seen in the pix), then '70 had another tab format and both were welded to the cover.

Then, the timing tab was NOT welded to the cover and instead attached under the cover bolts for all later years EXCEPT '73 where it was again welded to the cover. Yeah, I know this sounds kind of dumb--why go from tabs welded to bolted to welded for one year, then back to bolted? But, hey, I don't write the JG descriptive text...

Supposedly, the '73 SB timing tab that was again welded looked like this...

Actually my 73 SB is spot welded.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

That's the accepted version of the '68-69 SB timing cover. Has the 'crows foot depression reinforcing ribs' in the timing tab that changed for '70 and later era. Some were date code stamped and I've seen others that weren't...

Jack -- here's what the Chevrolet 1969 New Product Training Program Booklet has to say.

[Joe L.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

Eric -- let me give the following opinion (I've got about a dozen pics of a similar one off eBay over the last 9 years, as I also have one [incorrect] on my small block '65). Haven't checked for a date yet, as I didn't know about this the last time the balancer was off (1983).

I'm of the understanding that these begain in 1969, for the Camaro Z28, the 350 hp Corvette and SS350 Chevrolets. The date stamping is probably (week) (year). I have pics of examples with 1_69 thru 30_69.

Wayne-----


For 1969, BOTH 300 hp and 350 hp small blocks used an 8" balancer. The width of the balancers was different, but diameter was the same. Both used the style timing pointer shown here. 1970-71 also used 8" OD balancers for all engines.

NO 1969-71 Corvette ever originally used a 6" balancer. The only ones that used 7" during these years was 1969 L-36/L-68.

[Eric V.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

Thanks to all who responded - your info helps a lot. I have two of these covers stamped 8 68, one stamped 12 68, one stamped 27 69, and one stamped 16 (blank) - no year stamp. Now I have a better idea of the original applications for these covers.
Eric V.

[John H.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

Eric -

My February-built '69 Z/28 cover is stamped "1 69", and I have another one from an April-built '69 stamped "4 69".

[Steven G.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

My 72' corvette s/b is stamped 34 only, B-23 (build date) vin.#3187, has bolt on timing marker. Steve

[Scott S.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

Eric -- let me give the following opinion (I've got about a dozen pics of a similar one off eBay over the last 9 years, as I also have one [incorrect] on my small block '65). Haven't checked for a date yet, as I didn't know about this the last time the balancer was off (1983).

I'm of the understanding that these begain in 1969, for the Camaro Z28, the 350 hp Corvette and SS350 Chevrolets. The date stamping is probably (week) (year). I have pics of examples with 1_69 thru 30_69.

Hi Wayne,

I checked my timing cover, and I didn't see it at first, but when I looked in the right spot, there it was. I put some Permatex hand-cleaner on it to bring the date out a little better for the pictures, the last picture is dry. This car has a January 11, 1967 build date, the timing cover is stamped 12 66.

I didn't know the timing covers were date-stamped, and I hadn't seen that mentioned in any of the books.

[David L.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

Attached are three pictures of a small block Chev timing cover for an 8" diameter damper. I am hoping that someone can identify the application for this cover and identify the coding (if any) of what appears to be a date code stamping, i.e., day/year, week/year, etc.? (I have another cover like this that is stamped 27 69). Thanks in advance for any help.
Eric V.

Eric,

Your timing cover for an 8" balancer stamped "8 68" is dated the 8th week of 1968. Your cover stamped "27 69" is dated the 27th week of 1969. The timing covers with this type of tab and located for an 8" balancer were used on 1969 & 1970 Z28 and SS350 models as well as other models (Corvettes, etc.). I have noticed that the Chevrolet trucks of the same era used a completely different style tab on their covers with the 8" balancer.

Dave

[David L.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

Hi Wayne,

I checked my timing cover, and I didn't see it at first, but when I looked in the right spot, there it was. I put some Permatex hand-cleaner on it to bring the date out a little better for the pictures, the last picture is dry. This car has a January 11, 1967 build date, the timing cover is stamped 12 66.

I didn't know the timing covers were date-stamped, and I hadn't seen that mentioned in any of the books.

As far as I know your timing cover, stamped "12 66", is dated the 12th week of 1966. I have a 69 Z28 timing cover dated "33 69" or the 33rd week of 1969. I believe that timing covers were first date coded in the 1967 model year (or possibly even late production 1966 models). The model year 1967 was the first model year that bumper jacks and scissor jacks for GM models were date coded.

[Scott S.]

Re: Small Block Timing Cover ID Help?

As far as I know your timing cover, stamped "12 66", is dated the 12th week of 1966. I have a 69 Z28 timing cover dated "33 69" or the 33rd week of 1969. I believe that timing covers were first date coded in the 1967 model year (or possibly even late production 1966 models). The model year 1967 was the first model year that bumper jacks and scissor jacks for GM models were date coded.

Hi David,

Could the dating system used on timing covers for Corvettes and Camaros be different? John's two examples (post 10 above) are consistent with a 'month' dating system, but both vehicle examples have build dates early enough in the year (February & April) that the first number in his timing cover date code ("1" and "4", respectively) would probably be correct whether it was 'month' OR 'week'.

If the "12" in "12 66" on my timing cover means 12th week, that would be the last week of March, 1966. If I understand correctly, a March 1966 dated part would normally be found on a car that was completed between 0 to 90 days later (e.g., April to June 1966, when the '66 model was still in production).

The build date on my car is January 11, 1967. If the "12" on the timing cover indicates the last week of March 1966, it would be the earliest part on my car, by at least four months. The earliest dated parts I have found so far (if I have decoded them correctly) are the following:

July 1966
Clock: 0210 (Julian date code for July 29, 1966)
Seat belt (retractor side), metal connector to body, LH: 7-66
Seat belt (retractor side), metal connector to body, RH: 7-66


August 1966
Door panel, LH: August 22, 1966
Muncie close-ratio transmission: P7M30 (8/30/66)
Exhaust Manifold, RH: H22 (August 22)


September 1966
Door panel, RH: September 14, 1966


October 1966
Flywheel: J276 (October 27, 1966)
Vent window, RH: YA (October 1966)


The majority are November & December dated parts, with just a couple from January:

November 1966
Intake Manifold
Horn, LH
Headlight motor, RH
Holley Carburetor
A6 compressor
Jack storage compartment cover
Seat, RH (metal tag on seat spring)


December 1966
Engine stamp pad
Engine block casting date
Head, LH
Head, RH
Distributor (metal tag)
Radiator
Instrument Cluster
Headlight motor, LH
Windshield
Vent window, LH
Door glass, RH (LH door glass was replaced early in car's history, dated GZ for April 1967, first month for "Flo Lite")
Rear glass
Tire Tub lid/cover
A6 compressor foil decal
Exhaust Manifold, LH
Carpet tag (rear wheelhouse)
Seat belts (three dated 50 E 66 for 50th week, fourth seat belt tag is too faded to read date)
Heater/AC blower motor: stamped "12 66"

Timing Cover, stamped "12 66" (March or December 1966???)


January 1967
Steering column: 005 7 (January 5, 1967)
Tire Tub: Jan. 6, 1967



Camaro timing covers with a first date number higher than "12" obviously cannot represent months, but if it represents weeks on both Corvettes and Camaros, the 12th week of 1966 seems awfully early to be found on my car, unless the original was replaced at some point with an earlier timing cover. That's why I was wondering if Camaros and Corvettes might have used a different date-code system for timing covers.


Does anyone have a 1967 Corvette small-block timing cover dated "13 66" or later?