When I did my timing chain a couple of months ago I broke a piece off the cover. I don't have a picture of the actual cover but I got a picture of a cover and circled in yellow in the picture where it broke.


I was low in money and that was the second cover after the first one was eaten up by the chain after it broke...

So I was wondering if that little broke off would it effect my oil pressure or harm my engine. I don't have a oil pressure gauge to measure it but the truck seems to run fine. I know I have to change it sooner or later, I'm just hoping it would be later.

Not to worry. Has nothing to do with oiling. Just more of a guide for the timing chain. Probably to lessen the damage if a chain fails. But, there are bigger problems than that if it broke. I'd run it as is and rest easy. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

one of mine broke a piece at the same location. smoothed down the ragged area and re-used it. never had a problem.

I'm running one like that right now too. In fact all the tab material is missing on mine. I think the main thing that shelf does is to keep the chain from falling off the crank sprocket while you are installing it. I fumbled the cam gear while I was installing the cam with the result that my chain came off the crank sprocket. I had to pull the timing cover back off to be able to see that the reference mark on the crank sprocket was still aligned with the reference link on the chain. -- Matt