Cadillac Flathead - Timing Cover Casting Project

Russ,

i received my timing cover today, and damn! That is a very cool piece. When i get it machined, polished, and installed, i'll post pics.

Thanks again!

 

Thanks Buddy, nice to get some positive feedback.
I am still working to get the rest of the covers completed and shipped.
For the folks who dont know, our machinist crushed his fingers in a plate roller which set my program back some what and then just recently my casting guy had his crucible split and break.
He finally has one that is a compatible size for this work and we are almost over the line now.

 

I received mine today, a VERY nice piece, thanks!

 

Glad you liked it Justin and thanks for your patience.
Just never done this kind of thing before and we were a little slow getting started.
Good luck with your project.
Post some pic's when you can.

 

Russ, any chance of getting another one?

 

i remember doing a little casting in my high school metals cl*** , but none of it turned out that good. Nice work!!!!

 

There are only a couple left and that will most likely be the end of of it.
Any unsold covers and the number one casting will end up on ebay.
The mould/pattern only has a limited life (even though still plenty of life left in now) but the guys who own these will end up owning a rare item indeed.

If somebody really wants to own number one casting which by the way does fit and does have the pulley hole machine with a seal to suit the smaller hole size so could be machine out larger, they are welcome to PM me with their thoughts for a deal.

Number one casting is the only one where the number is written (ONE) instead as a numeral (2 etc) for all other covers.

I have a return buyer deciding which of the remaining numbers he would like and then after that I will list the choices left for anybody before I head to ebay.
HAMBers 1st policy.

 

Russ

-you still have any of these timing covers?

TP

 

Just a quick up date to the folks interested in these covers.
It has come to my attention that Cadillac ran 2 different timing chains.
One was a 3 row and the other a 2 row.

Turns out some folks are still running the 3 row chains (which are no longer produced) and have discovered the new cover does not fit up.

The 2 row chains are the only replacement part available and the cover will fit these without any problems.

To the folks that have 3 row chains, basically what is required, is at the time of having the crank hole machined and seal fitted, it would be worth getting the machine shop to mill some extra material out from the inside of the cover to allow clearance for the wider 3 row chain.

Obviously the other easy way to avoid this issue is to plan the install of the replacement a 2 row chain as part of your engine rebuild.

This modification could also be done at home with a router and die grinder should you so choose.

If anybody has done this modification, I would appreciate a post that may be able to explain how they have done it 1st hand, since I was not aware a 3 row chain even existed until recently.

 

Traditional means doing yourself. Nice work!

 

fiftyv8 -- outstanding work, sir! Do you have any tips on how one would get started on making a pattern and/or recommend any reference materials?

From the pics, it looks like the original pattern was wood(?). What is the blue coating? Thanks a lot.

Chris

P.S. There is nothing more traditional then building something from scratch!

 

Don't be surprised if I buy one of your timing covers. I modified the stock one on my engine, and it works just fine.(no leaks) But it simply doesn't look as good as yours!

 

Thanks and keep me posted.