You could also order a booster plate that will give you a hard wear surface and take the gouges in the aluminum cover out of the picture. TA sells it but this is what it looks like.
hi guys, well, another problem has reared it head. now we have a coolant leak. i'am seriously considering doing the whole job again. apparently this job is more about gaskets than timing chain. what do you all think? do it again or try a stop leak of some kind?
Take it all apart - clean all the surfaces and carefully re-assemble. Band-aids only work sometimes. You can build the entire front cover on the bench. FEL-PRO TCS45930
If you take it apart and fix it properly, you'll only cry once. If you keep trying to rig it to get by, you will be crying every time you see a puddle under the car.
It isn't original but I've heard it said when buying Buick parts and the expense of them, buy once, cry once.