Any suggestions on a reasonably-priced cover for my 440? I've used the MP chrome piece and it seemed to be OK. Is a cast aluminum cover worth the x-tra money? Thanks!

Yes, the cast covers will seal better than the tin covers. But some of the cast covers won't fit under a stock water pump, and some of them don't have a TDC pointer. So you have to pay attention to the details. My billet cover has an extra thick rail so it seals up very well, but it isn't "low budget".
http://arengineering.com/products/timing-chain-cover/

Post deleted by Al_Alguire

Randy, as Andy mentioned some won't fit under a stock water pump without a spacer. I don't recall what balancer you are using, but ATI sells a specific one for the Indy cover.

Competition Wedge, I have one of the stock covers on my "wall of shame"! Live and learn.....

Randy

I have always used the stock timing cover. Sand and paint has worked for me. Chrome anything can be hard to hold a gasket.

Post deleted by Al_Alguire

Post deleted by Al_Alguire

Promax sells a nice cast cover with seal for $100 but you'll need to add a pointer. It fits under the waterpump. You need to trim back the oil slinger if you're going to use one as it will rub the cover.

Randy, we used a 440Source tin cover on the 572 and it is heavier guage than the stocker. Dwayne had no concerns using it with the roller cam/thrust button setup and felt it would be reliable. Mine was slightly warped and needed some attention to seal it up but it's been fine and leak free since the dyno session.



Ron

The only reason why I'm switching to an AR Engineering setup is because I wanted something "a little" more sophisticated to go w/ my conversion from flat-tappet to roller cam. Otherwise, I'd stick the same OEM cover back on I've used "forever..." w/o any leakage issues.

Then by all means spend the extra coin and get one...........

Just going by what Isky said...........it`s rollerized so why would you need clearance?

I've never used anything but a stock cover.

Post deleted by Al_Alguire

Yes of course the timing cover flexes, but a stock type water pump housing does an admirable job at stopping it.

Of course this means dinking around for awhile, spending time on it, adding a piece of metal between the two parts that is just the right thickness to take up the space, without killing the clearance.

For a guy working out of the garage at home on a budget, where time is more plentiful than money....when the money spent might mean the difference between buying something more important he should absolutely spend the time dinking around with it and get it right, it will cost him next to nothing and he can set the cam end play wherever the heck he wants.

For a pro where time is money, whatever time you spend checking/correcting anything old is probably more expensive than the most expensive brand new part you could get...so anything old does not make sense from that perspective....in that situation stock timing cover is best used as a frisbee, or (preferably) give it away to one of us guys working at home in the garage.....

Post deleted by Al_Alguire