hey will the 49-62 front covers inter change.i want to put a 53 cover on a 60 block.im sure the timing mark would be off.is there a way i can set the timming besides factory junk. anyway? didnt they used to make things that went on your cap or something? thanks, eric
Hey Eric--got your name right this time, all is good , timing mark is indexted same as keyway on crankshaft. ON EARLY 303 thier was metal timing tag that set on drivers side of the dist. Markings were so close it is not as accurate as using timing light.
The only info I can share on this is that the '49-62 had one bolt pattern and the '63-4 had another. So the '49-62 will all interchange as far as the bolt pattern is concerned. The factory parts book lists the seal as also being the same from '49-62, so you're OK there. Again, '63(-64) is listed with a different #, but I don't know what the difference actually is. The parts book also lists the '49-56 covers as being the same, then '57, then '58-62, then '63 (and '64 I'm sure-- but my book is a '63). I do not know what the '57 cover was like, but can check a 371 (supposed '57) outside here when I get a chance. The 303 (and apparently the 324 ones as well, if going by the part #) had a long pointer, while the '58-62 covers used a very short stubby pointer that cleared the newer style balancers. Hope this info helps.
Oh yeah-- If you are thinking of your blown engine you want to build, then you won't be using a balancer. The belt absorbs the harmonics. Just be sure that the pointer is long enough that it does the job but not too long that it interferes.
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