Is my timing cover correct?

[Huicho417]

Not sure why I have never asked myself this. But is my timing cover correct? My car is a 1967 coronet with engine dated 08-01-66, as you can see from the pictures. The timing cover on it now does not have the timing marks built into it. Instead it’s a sheet metal tab that mounts to the bottom two bolts of the water pump. Located on the passenger side of the car.

All the images I see online when I search for a timing cover replacement show a cover with the marks built into it on the driver side. I have been running with my initial timing at 12 BTDC and seems to run ok. However this weekend I tuned it to almost zero BTDC and it feels like a whole new car. Accelerated much faster and gets up to 70 mph with very little effort. HaveI been timing it with the wrong cover?

 

[1KoolBee]

66’s were polys, that engine is a 67. Front covers are actually different between 66 back and 67 forward.The best way is use a good tdc finder and set timing pointer to match tdc once you find it.

 

[R413]

That is right with the bolt on tab

 

[pnora]

Not sure why I have never asked myself this. But is my timing cover correct? My car is a 1967 coronet with engine dated 08-01-66, as you can see from the pictures. The timing cover on it now does not have the timing marks built into it. Instead it’s a sheet metal tab that mounts to the bottom two bolts of the water pump. Located on the passenger side of the car.

All the images I see online when I search for a timing cover replacement show a cover with the marks built into it on the driver side. I have been running with my initial timing at 12 BTDC and seems to run ok. However this weekend I tuned it to almost zero BTDC and it feels like a whole new car. Accelerated much faster and gets up to 70 mph with very little effort. HaveI been timing it with the wrong cover?

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Verify that your timing marks are on 0 with the number 1 piston on TDC. Are you sure you were not at 12 degrees ATDC?

 

[Vaanth]

Not sure why I have never asked myself this. But is my timing cover correct? My car is a 1967 coronet with engine dated 08-01-66, as you can see from the pictures. The timing cover on it now does not have the timing marks built into it. Instead it’s a sheet metal tab that mounts to the bottom two bolts of the water pump. Located on the passenger side of the car.

All the images I see online when I search for a timing cover replacement show a cover with the marks built into it on the driver side. I have been running with my initial timing at 12 BTDC and seems to run ok. However this weekend I tuned it to almost zero BTDC and it feels like a whole new car. Accelerated much faster and gets up to 70 mph with very little effort. HaveI been timing it with the wrong cover?

View attachment 1815117

Your 1967 engine was originally equipped with the timing cover with separate bolt on timing tab as you have.

The 1964-1968 273, 1967-1968 318LA, and 1968 340 were equipped with the separate tab on the passenger side with matching damper for the driver hose inlet cast iron water pump. 1969 and some late 1968 LA engines have the timing "tab" cast into the housing. The cast in timing "tab" was moved to the driver side with the new aluminum water pump with hose inlet on the passenger side with matching damper with relocated marks. This cover was used through 1991 on the LA engines, although it was revised starting with the 1978 318 engines to allow the seal to be replaced without removing the cover.

The 1962-1966 (-1967 for Canadian models) 318 Poly engine has a similar cover with timing tab and matching damper as the 1964-1968 LA engines except it has an extra mounting hole on the driver side. It also uses the same water pump. The 1956-1961 Poly engines used a different cast iron cover with a different water pump.

As noted, verifying your marks is prudent. If your damper has been changed to a 1970 and later style, you will need to re-mark the timing marks to be like the earlier damper to match your timing tab location.

 

[Huicho417]

Thanks everyone for your input. I checked to make sure the distributor points at #1 cylinder at TDC, and it does. I followed the hot rod magazine article below.
Tuning Tips

Not using the adjustable dial on the timing gun. I left the dial at zero and turned the distributor to make sure I was BTDC center, as shown in the timing cover tab. I ended up at 5-6 degrees BTDC with zero spark knock and a very responsive throttle. The car actually feels lighter at acceleration. My engine also sounds better with more of choppier sound at idle.

I will give an update tomorrow when I drive it on the highway. Thanks again.