I've seen several posts that say that any SBC timing chain cover will fit on the (relatively) late model L98's with 1 peice oil pan gaskets. This doesn't seem to be true. I bought a two piece Edelbrock front cover, and the paperwork says it's for '86 and earlier. It sure looked the same as my '92's cover, so I called them, and they said the earlier gaskets are skinnier and it would leak if I used it. I tried fitting my 1 peice gasket into the bottom slot in the cover, and they were right, the gasket doesn't really fit. I may be able to force it in there, but the gasket doesn't fit like it does in the stock cover.

Does anyone know of a two piece cover designed for the L98 style motors? Have others just forced the gasket into the skinnier slot without problems? Or is everyone with a 1 piece gasket just running a stock cover? What options do we have?

Thanks.
Joe

 

So it's really true that there are no timing covers made to fit on 1 piece gasket oil pans? That's what the performance parts companies are saying, and based on the lack of response here, it must be true. I'm amazed that no one has needed a new timing cover on a GM built after '86.

My original cover had a grove worn in it by the allen head bolts of a double roller timing chain. I've ground the bolt heads down so they won't be a problem, but I'd still like something nicer than another stock cover.