Hi, all you 308 GTS folks out there. My 78 came with no cover over the flywheel (where you see the timing marks). Do I need to put this in place? Other than it is a scary bolt collector. I saw a recent engine posted here with not only a cover but a gasket. Do I need to weather tight this? If not, is there water collecting under my flywheel? i.e. why can't you leave it open? Experience is appreciated. -Rjay
It'd be pretty easy to fab the flat cover and gasket... A bolt, or oil from a filter change wouldn't be the best thing to have fall in there......
It's extremely hard to get the oil filter off w/o spilling some oil down on that cover. w/no cover, that's oil right onto your clutch... BTW,The 'gasket' is just a flat sheet of about 3/32" thick rubber the same shape as the Al plate.
I just dropped a nut down into my bell housing the other day. I will now have to remove the transfer gears and bell housing to recover the nut. I HIGHLY recomend the cover. Do as I say and not as I do, apparently.
I also recommend the cover. Just this winter I got a replacement rubber piece that goes under the cover, so that's easy to find if you want it. The cover itself will be some work to find a replacement I think. The dimensions will be critical as I found it a *little* tough to fit the original once the rubber cover was in place. Seamus
Guys, Thanks for all the advice. It looks like a fab of the cover should go quick. I assume that water will collect in the bottom of the housing. Verell, the oil thing scares me! I hadn't thought of that and I have taken the filter off a few times. -Rjay
I've had mine almost two years ( I've averaged 3K mi/yr )and changed the oil 3 times. It had fresh oil when I bought it. Next oil change will be later this month. In my admitedly limited experience I have never spilt a single drop of oil changing the filter. The last time I changed the oil, once I had the filter clear of the car and over a drop cloth I tilted it somewhat and some oil came out. If you keep the filter directly upright the enitre time it won't spill.
Definitely cover it. There is no reason NOT to cover it, and lots of reasons why you should. Just fab up a cover, and making a gasket is even easier. The next time you are working around the engine and drop something, you'll thank yourself. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yea, yea ....THAT engine! Thats the nice little cover that got me thinking. Actually, Matt (Polo35), your suggestion on the $17 is not such a bad idea. I can fab one but then, at that price, why not. Thanks everybody...I think we've beat this to death. -Rjay
