Buick Grand National V6 timing cover for use with external oil pump
Buick Small Block V8 and V6 Front Covers
This article appeared in The British V8 Newsletter - Volume XIV, Issue 1 - January 2006by: Kurt Schley
The front covers for the 1961-63 Oldsmobile/Buick 215 and 62-63 Buick V6, the 1964 - 67 Buick 300 and later Buick V6's are basically interchangeable. However, there are differences which may make one cover better suited for a particular application.
Timing Marks - The timing mark tab on the front cover of the '61 - '63 215 and V6 are on the oil pump side of the cover (as shown in Photo 1). The 300 front cover timing mark tab is on the opposite side (as shown in Photo 3). If a 300 crank is used in a 300 block, a 300 front cover should also be used. If the 215 front cover is retained, the timing mark tab will be on the wrong side. Many of the later V6 front covers have no timing tab (as shown in Photo 5).
Locating Dowels - The two holes in the front covers which accept the locating dowels are
0.300" diameter for the 215. For the 300 and the later V6 covers these holes are only 0.250"
diameter. If a 300 cover or later V6 cover is installed on a 215 block, the dowel holes
must be opened up to 0.300", otherwise the cover will fracture when the mounting bolts are
tightened.
Oil Pumps - The 215, 62-63 V6, 300 and later V6 oil pumps are interchangeable. However, the later V6 oil pumps point the oil filter to the side rather than downward as do the other pumps. This repositioning of the filter may be of advantage in some installations. Later side-pointed pumps have the word "METRIC" cast into their covers.
Mounting Bolt Holes - The front cover mounting bolt pattern for all except the later V6 are identical. The later V6 cover has two extra holes at the outboard sides of the water passages per Photo 6. This does not preclude the later V6 covers from being used on a 215 as they can be installed without the extra two bolts. Just be sure to make sure the gasket surfaces are clean, use a quality gasket and observe the factory recommended torque specifications (as should be done with all of the front covers).
James Jewell added: "Buick 340 and 350 covers, as well as all the Rover covers should also be a direct swap, although the latest Buick V6 and Rover V8 covers with crank-driven oil pumps have reverse-rotating water pumps."
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Oil Pumps - The 215, 62-63 V6, 300 and later V6 oil pumps are interchangeable. However, the later V6 oil pumps point the oil filter to the side rather than downward as do the other pumps. This repositioning of the filter may be of advantage in some installations. Later side-pointed pumps have the word "METRIC" cast into their covers.
Mounting Bolt Holes - The front cover mounting bolt pattern for all except the later V6 are identical. The later V6 cover has two extra holes at the outboard sides of the water passages per Photo 6. This does not preclude the later V6 covers from being used on a 215 as they can be installed without the extra two bolts. Just be sure to make sure the gasket surfaces are clean, use a quality gasket and observe the factory recommended torque specifications (as should be done with all of the front covers).
James Jewell added: "Buick 340 and 350 covers, as well as all the Rover covers should also be a direct swap, although the latest Buick V6 and Rover V8 covers with crank-driven oil pumps have reverse-rotating water pumps."
PARTIAL LIST OF FRONT COVER CASTING NUMBERS
Buick 215 and '62 - 63 V6: 1194376, 1194233 and 1361890.
Buick 300: 1358076, 1375157, 1358433, 1378432 and 1381626.
Later Rover V8 timing cover with crank-driven oil pump, and no provision for a distributor
Photo 2 -Buick/Olds 215 cover. Note 0.300" diameter dowel holes.
Buick 215 and '62 - 63 V6: 1194376, 1194233 and 1361890.
Buick 300: 1358076, 1375157, 1358433, 1378432 and 1381626.
Later Rover V8 timing cover with crank-driven oil pump, and no provision for a distributor
Photo 2 -Buick/Olds 215 cover. Note 0.300" diameter dowel holes.
Photo 3 - Buick 300 cover. Note timing mark at about 1:30.
Photo 4 - Buick 300 cover. Note 0.250" dowel holes.
Photo 5 - Later Buick V6 cover. No timing mark tab. Note "Metric" oil pump cover pointing horizontally.
Photo 6 - Later Buick V6 cover. Note extra bolt holes. Dowel holes are identical to Buick 300.
Disclaimer: This page was researched and written by Kurt Schley. Views expressed are those of the author, and are provided without warrantee or guarantee. Apply at your own risk.
