Timing covers?

[hot air 84GN]

I'm a little confused. Which timing cover to purchase. I'm sure that you get what you pay for. And I'm sure that Earl's covers are "da bomb!" To start with a GM cover and then modify it, porting and smoothing everything up would probably be the best way to go. But what about all of those cars still running stock covers?? They were'nt modified, and still run great. I dont mind the extra work, but why do we NEED to drill and port all of those passageways? Is it truely necessary? Does it work OK if it IS just bolted on? I guess what I'm getting at is, I see covers sold at reputable vendors: TA Performance, Gbodyparts, Full Throttle. And if you can't get a GM cover anymore (hear they're discontinued) what place sells a good cover? I don't need anything excessive, just something that will work. DON'T want a P.O.S. either.
Also what about oil pumps while I'm looking at covers? I hear that a high volume pump isn't necessary...but better pressure is better right? Or not?
Any imput or opinions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[49-blues]

You can find sone deals on ebay but you should check them over thoroughly, i have a couple good used ones if interested.

 

[GT CHARLEY]

frt covers

Beware of the ones on E-bay!!! I got one, did the Earl B. mods, bolted it on & the cam sensor wouldn't line up, & go in. Machine shop said there made off= shore & not machined right. Went to a wholesale parts house that my machine shop uses, I think it was a Silvolite Brand, lession learned, ya'll get what you pay for.

 

[dr_frankenstein]

sure plenty have tossed a stock cover on and have been just fine.

it only takes one cover to have a piece of trash or a poorly cast passage to destroy your engine.

Just take a few hours to look it over and clean up - you dont have to blueprint it - but give it a solid inpection. The piece of mind is worth it.

:biggrin: A.j.

 

[earlbrown]

You're right (kinda). It depends on the time frame. If a cover was machined right, you could bolt it up and run it for 100,000 miles. GM used to do it on untold millions of new cars. The problems came during the end of GM's production run when the covers were only replacement parts not installed on engines with warranties.
With the last batches there was a rash of casting flaws and mishaps in final machining. The worst I ever saw was that GM forgot to drill the oil pickup hole. Bolting one of those up without catching that would result in immediate engine smokage.
About 60% to 70% of the covers I did from that time frame had BAD casting flash that you could break off with your finger. That would be a great way to tear up a new pump and cover, but might not kill the engine instantly.
The GM covers I use now are a little older and from the late 80's. Back when my parts were made GM was still installing them in new cars. It's amazing how much nicer they are than the ones they sold as a replacement part. Even the casting surface on the outside is night and day.

A lot of people think what I do to my covers it to make them flow like a firehose. That's kinda true, but that's not what I shoot for. Once you hit the PSI needed to open the relief spring, that's all the oil you're going to get. I like mine to come up on the pipe as quickly as possible and use the least amount of HP possible while the spring is open.

The main thing smoothing the cover does is to free up efficiency. If it takes less HP to turn they pump, you get that back many times over. You can use the HP to drive tires or use less gas. The internal side effects are that you beat up on the oil much less. That will give you better oil life and less heat (not to mention taking a load off the front cam bearing, and timing set).
The main thing I like about the modded units is how fast the startup pressure comes up and how quickly it can shut up noisy lifters. The common fix for idle PSI used to be a biggie oil filter. It works on the same principle... eliminating flow restriction.
Anything you can do to smooth flow is a good thing. That's why be port intercoolers, and radius turbo bells, and get solid MAF pipes, etc...

 

[charlief1]

Earl knows what he's doing for sure. Aj you need to listen to him and do the mods.

 

[dr_frankenstein]

Earl knows what he's doing for sure. Aj you need to listen to him and do the mods.

nah uh!

dry sump here sweet cheeks.

A.j.

 

[charlief1]

sweet cheeks.

Um...thanks, I guess but I'm not one of Those guys Aj. LOL

 

[dr_frankenstein]

Um...thanks, I guess but I'm not one of Those guys Aj. LOL

LOL... always got to talk chit!

happens when you too slow.

:tongue: A.j.

 

[charlief1]

You gotta stop setting yourself up Aj. I know you're ex AF but come on, your not a Marine too are you? LMFAO

 

[dr_frankenstein]

You gotta stop setting yourself up Aj. I know you're ex AF but come on, your not a Marine too are you? LMFAO

LMAO, i dont think im that thick in the head.
but then again, I am obsessed with carbs..... so maybe.

A.j.