Hi I'm putting together an L31 and I won't be using the ignition with the crank sensor. I would like to change the single roller chain and gear set-up to a double roller set-up but the double roller chain and gears apparently won't fit with the crank sensor wheel on the end of the crank. I wanted to just do away with it but the machinist doing my block work says that it needs to be there for the dampner to be correctly located because it sits against it. Is that correct? Another question is...if I can change it, then I guess the factory plastic cover won't fit with a double chain, (I need to buy a new one anyway without a hole) so does anyone make a cover to fit the L31 block or is the cover bolt pattern even the same? Thanks for any help, this seems like it would be a relatively, simple problem to deal with, but in searching for answers I haven't come up with anything other than to keep the single roller, and use a marine cover with out a hole. I guess that would be ok to do, but where I need to buy a new chain/gears and cover anyway, I would just as soon buy parts that I perceive as being superior to a single chain and a plastic cover.

 

I may be all wet, and I haven't worked on these personally, but from what I understand, when you take off the crank sensor and timing cover, you can put standard Gen I SBC stuff back on without any problem. That would include a Gen I SBC harmonic damper.

 

That would be great if that is the case. As far as the damper goes...it looks the same but I don't have one off an early syle sb to compare with right now, or an early crank to compare with either. I have to go to the machine shop today so...maybe I can measure some parts there to verify.

Yeah this is my first L31 to work with, I got it as a complete core along with another one that had a rod sticking out of the pan for low $. I'm going to TPI it, which brings up another question...does anyone know if the 96 serp belt set-up ( I think it is off a 1/2t truck) will work with the TPI ?

 

That's right....a standard gen 1 sbc timing cover will bolt right up. Check summit, they have a standard chrome cover for $7 and than just pick a timing and gear set that's double roller for roller cams. Cloyes makes them.

 

L31 still uses the generic SBC roller block, same as has been used since '87. The only "unique" part of the L31 is the heads.

I doubt the truck serpentine setup will work - if it did, GM would have used it in these cars too. They like to 'recycle' components wherever they can, because it reduces costs. You'll need the F-body setup, though I think you can use the setup from a TPI, TBI, or late carb'd V8 car - they all used the same serpentine setup.

 

I would call the crank sensor and plastic cover "unique" . . .

 

Ok, I'll give you that too... but the block itself isn't special, which is what I was getting at.