Buick 225 Timing Cover Question

I was reassembling my motor today and got as far as the timing cover before things got interesting..

I purchased a NEW cover, made by Dorman, that accepts the Neoprene seal..
I noticed two differences so far in the cover and how it effects other parts purchased for a 1966 225.

1st, the oil pan.. the new cover has almost a triangle appearance. The 1966 Pan and gasket are squared off.

2nd, the water pump from a 1966 does not fit in the new timing cover. the impeller fins are too big.

so my question for the people smarter than me..
What am i dealing with here and what am i looking for..
I assume the cover is for a late model Buick V6..
Will anything else not mesh up correctly? (oil pump, etc)

So i assume I will need a H20 pump for such a vehicle..
I also assume I will need a pan gasket for a later model V6.. and i guess now a pan?

Am I correct in my assumptions.?
is there a specific year/make/model I should look for.

 

Sure sounds like Dorman sent the wrong one. Wouldn't chance trying to buy parts to fit new cover as they wont fit the 225 innerds. What happened to the original cover. If you don't have the old one I suggest you source parts yards for proper item.

 

my first thought was its a 231 cover and the 225 number was dropped in lieu of the newer model.
the Triangle front section looks like a 80's 231 oil pan..
Its not so much inner parts.. the only things I can see being effected are the oil pan and water pump..
Oil pump numbers are the same from the 60's-80's (just thinking out loud)


I do have the original cover, but it wont accept a neoprene seal.. I could always reuse and use the rope.

 

the one I pulled off had some kind of convex lip..
ill try and grab a pic..

 

Yep the neoprene seal fits fine once you clean the staking marks off the inside of the cover.

 

yes, I was referring to the inside of the cover..

 

I did a bit more research this morning when I got into the office...
Ends up the cover is a superseded number. Both ATP and Dorman sell the same 231 cover to replace the 225 one.

I think I may be the guinea pig and see if it all pans out.

 

WONT WORK...
after checking each aspect, including oil pan depth.. the one things that wont work...
a mechanical fuel pump..

I did however take a good look at my cover.. it seems like I can use it.. the one thing I noticed before cleaning, there is a threaded hole in the top of the cover.. some of the inside casting broke off..

 

Are you talking about (threaded hole) where the water-pump bolts on?

 

no its at the top of the cover running up and down..
it goes into the timing gear area, not water jackets

im just getting educated on these motors so Im not quick with placement of everything.

 

If it's any help, this guy had one for sale a few months ago:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270399820530
I wrote him and asked about the timing cover and he replied: $35.00 + $13.95 s/h usps-pmfr
I found one at a local salvage yard, so I didn't buy the eBay one.

 

I've interchanged them as well. Also used one from a Buick 340 V-8 and one from a 350 V-8 as well.
The only bolt hole I can think of vertically is for the distributor hold-down.

There are early 231 timing covers that are the same as the 225 except for the timing marks, and there are later 231 covers that have a bolt-on timing tab, and there are 231 covers that are "metric". There are lots of variations when you hit 231's depending on the year of the motor. I alway have the parts houses (quality) ask if it says metric on it and how many bolts hold the oil pan in place.

 

This cover has timing marks, is cast for a 14 bolt pan, but does not have a hole for a mech fuel pump..

Distrib lock is prob correct... pictures tomorrow..

 

Yeah, I think pics are necessary here. The only "231" cover's I'm aware of without a fuel pump port are the FI models when they became 3800's. it's possible they are making a generic model and you have to "open up" the port. Are there bolt holes for the fuel pump and no hole for the arm or is there simply nothing there?