My new rebuilt engine seems to be a bit noisy at the timing chain cover. It is the stock cover which I blasted ,cleaned and repainted black. I decided to take it off and check to see what may be hitting. I bought a new cast cover at spring Carlisle show and was told it would fit all SBC. The other night on e-bay I saw one just like it whichs states up to 1985 only. I have an 1989 5.7 so I e-mailed the seller to see if it would fit and his replie was NO. Ok now what should I do? I still am going to take off the old one and check out the noise. If it is hitting inside the cover I want to change the cover. The chain is a new double roller chain and I hope it is OK if not I will change it too. The engines only been run about 45 mins. but I do not want any problems. What is the difference in the timing covers? I also need to know does the timing pointer go in the same place if the motor is now 383?

 

Timing pointer is in the same place, yes. The main difference between the 86 and older engines is that they do not have roller cams. The rollers cams have a longer snout on the front of them. That may be the reason it wont clear.

 

The timing pointer goes in the same place only if your 383's balancer is the same size and is marked in the same location as your factory one.

 

Yes thats what i meant, thanks for the correction