Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: 1978 400 timing cover  (Read 3191 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline transamfan99

  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
1978 400 timing cover
« on: October 23, 2011, 03:32:45 PM »
im having some trouble putting my timing cover back on the motor. i cant figure out where the bolts go. i could really use some help. much appreciated.

[attachment deleted by admin, over 90 days old]
Logged

Offline 4SPEED

  • Ohio Firebirds
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7322
  • NFTAC & POCI Member
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2011, 04:18:58 PM »
looks like a 301 cover with the plastic timing marks.

My 400's  have the 2-3 at the bottom  , two # 4's  in the middle 2 holes. 
Logged
77 W72 TransAM  (SOLD)
79 TransAM 4SPEED

Offline transamfan99

  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2011, 04:28:32 PM »
any reason that might be a 301 cover? the more time i spend rebuilding this engine the weirder things get..
Logged

Offline 4SPEED

  • Ohio Firebirds
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7322
  • NFTAC & POCI Member
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2011, 08:07:50 PM »
every 400 Ive ever had has the timing mark cast onto them. and the 1   / 301 I had had the plastic bolt on marks.
the gusset where the fule pump mounts is different too.   do the bolt holes and the pump feed holes line up?
and wrong color too if your wanting to be 78 correct. unless its the pic.  it looks to be 75 and older Pontiac blue.  you want corporate blue 77 on


« Last Edit: October 23, 2011, 08:21:19 PM by 4SPEED »
Logged
77 W72 TransAM  (SOLD)
79 TransAM 4SPEED

Offline eroc022

  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7655
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2011, 08:16:42 PM »
my 77 400 had the bolt on tab, it was a metal tab though..... thought I lost it for awhile.....
Logged
Eroc
Fixing the car that Restore A Muscle Car jacked up....

Offline Chuckles

  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 627
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2011, 08:20:41 PM »
Quote from: eroc022 on October 23, 2011, 08:16:42 PM
my 77 400 had the bolt on tab, it was a metal tab though..... thought I lost it for awhile.....


Ya, I was about to say...they made them with bolt on tabs.
Logged

Offline tata

  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 609
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2011, 11:49:04 AM »
U can make the 301 fit I believe, there is a common problem when u replace the water pump and take the timing cover off. ALL THE BOLTS BREAK OFF WITHIN A FEW TURNS. This happened to me ,lucky for me not in the block but still had to drill out the bolts and retap -instead of have to spend an arm and leg on new cover.
Logged

Offline 4SPEED

  • Ohio Firebirds
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7322
  • NFTAC & POCI Member
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2011, 12:30:18 PM »
just saying , Ive never had a bolt on timing mark on a 400.    and the 301 cover I still have the cover and the plastic timing mark. 
Logged
77 W72 TransAM  (SOLD)
79 TransAM 4SPEED

Offline kentuckyyeti

  • Administrator
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4484
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2011, 12:28:30 AM »
W72's have the timing marks on the cover.  L78 400's have the blue plastic bolt-on tab with the timing marks on it.
Logged

Offline 4SPEED

  • Ohio Firebirds
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7322
  • NFTAC & POCI Member
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2011, 01:25:32 AM »
my 75 400 in my 79 doesnt have the bolt on marks.  I'll need to check my 72 400.


301 on the left  and the other is from a big car 400 I had a few years ago.
Logged
77 W72 TransAM  (SOLD)
79 TransAM 4SPEED

Offline tltw72

  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2011, 09:41:18 AM »
Logged

Offline 4SPEED

  • Ohio Firebirds
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7322
  • NFTAC & POCI Member
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2011, 10:23:34 AM »
the 75 in my 79t/a  this was its first rebuild.   and didnt show any signs of being apart before.   but my motor guy builds alot of Pontiac's so he could of just pulled it from the shelf. he had the motor for 5 months, so parts get moved/lost.

Logged
77 W72 TransAM  (SOLD)
79 TransAM 4SPEED

Offline kentuckyyeti

  • Administrator
  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4484
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2011, 01:09:21 PM »
It didn't  take a rebuild, just replacing a front end part like the water pump.  Usually the plastic would break at the screwhole when removing the timing cover bolt, or it would crack  just by bumping it.  In that case-  The best thing to do was to replace it with a W72 timing cover.  I have had 6 W72 cars and all had the timing marks on the cover.  My L78 cars I have bought that were unrestored used a blue plastic timing tab.
Logged

Offline eroc022

  • Lifetime Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7655
Re: 1978 400 timing cover
« Reply #13 on: October 25, 2011, 02:10:34 PM »
my 76 4spd has a cast in tab... and it was all original.... but again I was just saying my 77 had a metal tab....
Logged
Eroc
Fixing the car that Restore A Muscle Car jacked up....
Pages: [1]   Go Up