The oil pump in my '71 350 needs a rebuild. I have ordered a kit from KB but have not checked the pump cover for wear yet. If the scoring is not to deep could I have a machine shop mill a couple thou off the face off the pump cover? Or is this a stupid idea? Thanks
I know they sell a "thrust plate" to solve some of the wear problems, but what exactly does it do? Also, will a timing cover from a V-6 interchange with the 350's?
Ok guys the V6 cover will fit on the 350. It is an exact match. The booster plate gives the pump a new wear surface and goes between the pump and oil filter housing. You can also buy the adjustable regulator to increase oil pressures at higher RPM's
Make sure on the V6 timing cover that it is the 14 bolt V6 timing cover...There was also a 20 bolt timing cover in late 85 thru 87... The 14 bolt refers to the number of bolts in the V6 oil pan...14 bolt oil pans were used in early 85 and older...The 20 bolt oil pans were used late 85 and newer... The 20 bolt timing covers were pointed and the 14 bolt timing covers are identical to the smallblock Buick V8 covers...The aftermarket Buick V6 timing covers should have both the 14 bolt and 20 bolt oil pan bolt configs drilled and tapped into them...The aftermarket dual bolt pattern(14/20 bolt) ones are the cover you want, unless you can find a good used early 85 and older 14 bolt timing cover...Be careful, some aftermarket V6 timing covers have a set screw on the top of the timing cover under where the distributor is...Make sure that set screw is loctited in, or staked, or replaced with a very short bolt...I have heard of that set screw dropping into the timing chain gears and breaking the timing chain on a turbo V6 motor...Just a heads up...(BTW, I have no clue as to why that set screw is there o No: ) The only other difference in the V6 timing cover to the V8 timing cover is the V6 timing cover has a removable timing scale on them...The timing numbers are in a slightly different position from the V8 timing numbers(reads something like 10* off or something, from what I've heard)...Just set your motor on TDC #1 cyl and don't rotate the motor after that...Install the new cover with V6 pointer and mark a new line on your balancer that lines up with 0* on the pointer and you're good to go... Hope this helps some...
I've some 'low buck' re-rings, where the guys just put the cover on the belt sander real quick. I've done it myself, on request of the owner of the shop where I used to work, with good results. Put even but light pressure on it while it's on the sander - keep moving your hand in a twisting, side-to-side motion to give it a nice flat surface. I think the booster plate is a better idea of course!:TU:
