Early 355 Engines

My engine number is 38088 and does not have them. I thought just Challenge cars got those but not sure.

As for other early vs later 2.7 differences, I've read larger intake ports (that sometimes resulted in cracking/coolant leaks) and lighter pistons.

 

I've seen 2.7 cars that had the back plates, but I'm not aware of when the change was made. It's kind of a "belt & suspenders" approach to protecting the belts. Not really necessary unless the one in a million piece of debris somehow finds it's way in there. I've only ever seen a timing belt damaged by debris one time. It was someone here, many years ago, that did belts I think on a 308, and left a washer where it could drop onto the belt. It made a nice circular cutout, but didn't actually sever the belt. Fortunately he heard a noise and checked it before real damage was done.

 

The parts book on the 2.7 cars show them on the belt covers. They do not show in the 5.2 book. Somebody doing a service on the car probably forgot to put them back. hope that helps

 

I have performed major services on many 355s. I have never had a street car with the rear cam belt covers. I am not saying it wasn't on some, I am saying it wasn't on all early cars.
All of the Challenge kits came with rear cam cover plates for the engines. But as the cars were converted street cars, you had to add the covers.
On another note, very early 355s {before #38150) had different spark plug covers and multiply gaskets. I have only worked on one of those early engines.

 

Just a side note, if it matters, to Wade’s post. The Challenge cars had a different cover/part no. they had slats added to the lower part of the cover. The attached picture is from the ‘97 - 99 Challenge parts book. 2nd picture is from the 2.7 parts book
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