MGB & GT Forum

Currently my engine is fitted with the timing cover in pic 1 with the timing marks on the bottom. I have Jeff Schlemmers kit to relocate the timing mark to the top.

In a grab bag of parts I bought I ended up with this timing cover, pic 2, which I powdercoated without thought to it not being the right one, with timing marks on the top. It seems to be a straight swap, but what sort of MOWOG car did this second timing cover come from originally.

Is the second cover usable on a '67 B?

---

Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled but which is largely back together so I'm a lot less ignorant.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-02 01:29 AM by melbaver.

IDK (as I told you) but if you end up using no.2 (because it's a pretty colour) perhaps the Schlemmer pointer and tape have my name on them????????????/

---

Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

Hi Chris,

I've just replaced the Harmonic Balancer on my 68 model, with the timing marks on the bottom of the Timing Cover.

The supplier said that the Harmonic Balancer is the same, regardless of where the Timing Marks are on the Timing Cover.

The difference is that the "Key" is in a different position on the Crank Shaft, therefore you can't change the cover without changing the Crank Shaft or remarking the Harmonic Balancer to suit.

The cover with the Timing Marks at the top is from a later model.

By the way, don't mix up the Timing Cover Bolts, two small ones at the bottom.

If you fit the larger ones in the bottom, you will "Jack" the front plate away from the engine & oil will pour out.

That involves removing the Timing Chain etc to replace the gasket & stop oil leak.

Ross H.

Any day above the ground is a great day.

---

Any day above the ground is a great day, especially "Driving Miss B".



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-02 02:48 AM by Tar Trekka.

Whole engine is a pretty colour now......................if I don't use the tape & pointer, it's yours.

Thanks Ross. I have a new HB which will go on the crank in exactly the same orientation as yours. I'm still trying to get my head around moving timing marks 180 and the dizzy being off by a cog or by another 180 etc etc........getting to be a bit above my pay grade.

Notice that I wasn't rude enough to ask how you have this intimate knowledge as to what happens when you use the wrong bolts on the TC

---

Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled but which is largely back together so I'm a lot less ignorant.

Thanks. Did you measure the hole where your thumb is - is it the same size as the top cover? IIRC all the other dimensions were the same so I can't see why you can't use it. I Googled images of the 1800 cover but didn't find a match. Given the timing prongs are on the upside I figured that it had to come from something later. IDK how you can mix up the screws sure some are 1/4" and some are 5/16" but they'll only screw into their relevant size.

---

Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

Hi there,

The bolts at the bottom of the Timing Chain Cover on my car are 1/4" in the Block & 5/16" in the plate.

The 5/16" threads are used to separate the block & plate.

That's how I separated mine to replace the gasket to repair an oil leak between the block & plate.

Ross H.

Any day above the ground is a great day.

---

Any day above the ground is a great day, especially "Driving Miss B".

Chris,

Here are some helpful facts for you.

> The timing cover shown in your second photo came on all MGB's 1968-80.

> The woodruff key on the crankshaft is always at the 12 o'clock position when cylinders 1 and 4 are at TDC, regardless whether it's an early or late engine.

> Easiest is to use a later harmonic balancer with the timing cover you show, since it will already have the correct marking to coincide with the pointers on your later timing cover.

> If you want to use an earlier balancer with the later timing cover, you can trial fit the original timing cover and original balancer to set the crankshaft exactly at TDC. Then you can remove the early balancer and timing cover without turning the engine, and install the later timing cover and early balancer. Since the engine is already at TDC, you can then make a mark on the original balancer at the zero degrees TDC mark on the timing cover.

> If you have an early balancer and only the later timing cover, then you can locate TDC by a variety of ways and then mark the balancer to coincide with the TDC marking on the timing cover...

Dick

---

Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

You could paint a white line on the crankshaft pulley to line up with the TDC mark on the new cover & ignore the original notch.

Hey dick,

Thanks for that, I do have a brand new HB, and I've powdercoated the newer timing cover, so it all looks like it'll work. Plus Barrie gets to schlemmerise his timing cover. Barrie, you will of course be chroming the pointer?

---

Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled but which is largely back together so I'm a lot less ignorant.

Not trying to pick a fight, but that is incorrect, the key on the crank will always be pointing up when #1 and #4 are TDC.

The new Moss harmonic balancer, I think, don't hold me to it has tow timing marks on it, one for the top tab and one form the bottom tab, but you should always check this with #1 on TDC, set with a dial indicator.

If you need to remark a harmonic balancer if change to say a tp timing pointer on a early car, get to TDC with the dial indicator mark with a Sharpie marke, then rotate to a good spot use a wide chisel to make the new mark, then I use those cat ouch paint bottle with a brush and use a contrasting color. I make my own top timing tabs, they are welded on the timing cover.

here's some of the top timing pointers I made over the years, every bottom timing tab engine that leaves here gets one of these.


Dick M., see that time you beat me to the punch, it took me longer, because I had to sort thru my 5000 pictures

---

Hap Waldrop
Acme Speed Shop
864-370-3000
Website: www.acmespeedshop.com
hapwaldrop@acmespeedshop.com



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-02 05:08 PM by Speedracer.

Hap,

So, lessee, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then 5,000 pictures are worth.... well.... more than a lot of words...

BTW, I know it's just a typo -- key on crank will always be pointing up when #1 and #4 are at TDC...

You've got better pictures; I've got better typing...

Dick

---

Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

See that's what happens when I try to out type your ass yep it was typo.

---

Hap Waldrop
Acme Speed Shop
864-370-3000
Website: www.acmespeedshop.com
hapwaldrop@acmespeedshop.com

So where is the typo?

the key on the crank will always be pointing up when #1 and #4 are TDC

unless it should say 'keyway should always be on top or at 0/360 degrees"

Thanks Hap, and again Dick.............I'm almost getting it..

---

Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled but which is largely back together so I'm a lot less ignorant.

As for the new harmonic balancer, I've had one on back order since March and there is still no expected delivery date. For now, everyone should plan on using what they have.

---

Basil C. Adams
1956 MGA Coupe (Show Car)
1957 MGA Roadster (Driver)
1958 MGA Coupe (Racecar)
1959 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Roadster (Driver)
MKIII Elva Courier (E1056)
1967 427 Cobra
1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
A coupla late MGBs
1960 Austin Healy BN7
More Cars than Brains

Hi there,

After reading comments re the Keyway being at TDC on all crankshafts, I think I was given a "Bum Steer" by my supplier.

It seems more feasible & believable that there are different Harmonic Balancers rather than different Crank Shafts.

At least I got the correct Balancer for my car, but I had to wait a couple of months to get it.

Ross H.

Any day above the ground is a great day.

---

Any day above the ground is a great day, especially "Driving Miss B".