tii timing cover question

[Steve73tii]

Is there more than one style of lower timing cover for the tii? On my car (3/73 build), the front of the iron alternator bracket mounts through a hole on the cover. Was there another style where the alternator bracket was part of the cover? I'm wondering not so much for correctness, but whether there was an update to make the alternator mount stronger.

--Steve

[02fanatic]

Yes, early tii's had the cover with the alt bracket fitting incorporated into the cover itself. Later tii's do not have that fitting, and the bracket bolts to the block instead of the alum cover. (I think I got that right :-))

This is one way you can tell whether your engine is an early tii engine. Most changes to tii engines started about mid-year in '72.

John

[Steve73tii]

Thanks John -- So I have the "improved" timing cover then. I wanted to know because the face of that hole is chipped, making the location of the alternator mount subject to bolt tension.

It's a nifty design 'n all - the hole is on kind of an "island" (peninsula?) in a hollow area of timing cover, so it doesn't cause an oil leak if it cracks, but there's not much mating surface there.

Not sure I want to replace the whole timing cover for this. Maybe this winter I'll level it off and put a washer or spacer between that and the alternator mount?

--Steve

[JerryC]

My early timing cover had a problem with the alternator mount, so Jack Fahuna cut off the cover mounting features. I bolted a later style alternator mount to the block in its place, the holes are already there. I don't recall all the details, but you could probably figure it out if you can get a block-mount bracket. They were definitely used on '74s.

I just checked Max's website and new brackets are available but they're $117 (ouch). A used one should be available somewhere. Try Double 02 Salvage if you can't find one from a private party. I've always gotten good service from them.