Pontiac Timing Cover Identification

4-bolt, 8-bolt and 11-bolt covers: which one you have, which water pump, plates and balancer go with it, and how to upgrade.

On a Pontiac V8 the timing cover is part of the cooling system, not just a front cover. The water pump bolts to it, and the passages in the cover carry coolant from the pump into the block. That's why the cover you have decides the water pump, the divider plates and, on some years, the balancer. There are small variations in timing tabs within each style, but the basic layout and balancer clearance are consistent from year to year.

Years	How to identify it
1955–1963	4-bolt water pump
1964–1965	8-bolt water pump, timing pointer
1966–1967	8-bolt water pump, timing tab
1968	8-bolt water pump, timing tab spaced out for the larger balancer
1969 and up	11-bolt water pump, sleeves and a single outside divider plate

1955–1963 · 4-Bolt Timing Cover

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The early Pontiac V8s used a 4-bolt water pump on their own timing cover. None of the later 8-bolt or 11-bolt parts will fit: our 8-bolt to 11-bolt conversion kits will not work on 1963 and older engines with the 4-bolt cover.

We don't offer a replacement 4-bolt timing cover. We do stock the water pump and gaskets.

The 4-bolt pump turns clockwise (looking at the front), like every Pontiac water pump. Pontiac never made a reverse-rotation pump. Impellers can look different, but they all push coolant outward.

Water Pump: Pontiac 4-Bolt 1955–Early 1963 Water Pump w/ Cast OEM Style Impeller (APE-PN257A)

Water Pump Gasket: 4-Bolt Water Pump Gasket, 1960–63 V8 (SPM-61223)

Timing Cover Gasket: Timing Cover Gasket, 1960–63 (SPM-67230)

1964–1965 · 8-Bolt Pointer Style

Pontiac 1964-65 8-bolt pointer style timing cover

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Besides the timing pointer, the big difference is that some of these covers have the lower divider plate cast into the cover. Our 1964–68 plates are sold as a set; on a cover with the cast-in plate, you won't use the bottom plate.

Balancer: 6-Bolt 2-Piece Balancer, 1959–67 (AAC-630155)

Water Pump: Flowkooler 8-Bolt Hi-Volume Cast Iron w/ Billet Aluminum Impeller (BRW-1622)

Reconditioned Original Cover: 1964–65 Reconditioned 8-Bolt Cover (BPI-1018TC-8-64-65)

1966–1967 · 8-Bolt Tab Style

Pontiac 1966-67 8-bolt tab style timing cover

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The pointer is replaced by a 12-degree timing tab. Otherwise it's the same 8-bolt pump and two-piece divider plates as 1964–65.

Balancer: 6-Bolt 2-Piece Balancer, 1959–67 (AAC-630155)

Water Pump: Flowkooler 8-Bolt Hi-Volume Cast Iron w/ Billet Aluminum Impeller (BRW-1622)

Reconditioned Original Cover: 1966–67 Reconditioned 8-Bolt Cover (BPI-1018TC-8-66-67)

1968 · 8-Bolt Tab Style, Balancer Clearance Update

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The timing tab is spaced further out to clear the larger 1968-and-up 4-bolt balancer.

Our aftermarket 8-bolt cover (BPI-TC-68) is the 1968 style. It fits 1964–68 engines and will work with the 1964–67 6-bolt balancer, but the gap from the timing marks to the damper hub may be greater than stock. It has the dimple for Tri-Power, a 0-6-12 degree tab, and comes with the seal installed. It isn't machined for alignment sleeves, and the divider plates may need fitting.

Timing Cover: 8-Bolt Replacement Timing Cover, 1964–68 (BPI-TC-68)

Balancer: 1968–79 4-Bolt Balancers

Water Pump: Flowkooler 8-Bolt Hi-Volume Cast Iron w/ Billet Aluminum Impeller (BRW-1622)

Reconditioned Original Cover: 1968 Reconditioned 8-Bolt Cover (BPI-1018TC-8-68)

8-bolt water pumps: the Flowkooler is the only high-volume pump made for the 8-bolt cover, and it's the one we use.

1969 and Up · 11-Bolt Tab Style

Pontiac 1969 and up 11-bolt timing cover

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The 11-bolt is a much better cooling design, not just three more bolts. The sleeves are separate pieces that fit into the cover and seal against the plate, and the divider plate moves to the outside of the cover, where it seals off the water in the timing cover.

The 8-bolt plate sat inside the cover with no seal around its edges or at the pump holes, so water leaked off in other directions. The 11-bolt design keeps the water in the right channels and sends it into the engine much more efficiently.

When you replace an 11-bolt cover, replace the sleeves and O-rings and fit a new divider plate at the same time. Reproduction 11-bolt covers won't work with Tri-Power. For Tri-Power, use the reconditioned dimpled cover.

Timing Cover: Butler 11-Bolt Timing Cover, 1969–79 (BPI-1062) or AAU-N538

Tri-Power: Reconditioned Dimpled 11-Bolt Cover, 1969–79 (BPI-1018TC-11D)

Install Kit: 11-Bolt Timing Cover / Water Pump Install Kit (BPI-Kit-TC-INSTALL)

Balancer: 1968–79 4-Bolt Balancers

Water Pumps (4.5", 1969½–79):

Early 1969 4" vs. 1969½ and Later 4.5" Water Pumps

1969 is the one year Pontiac changed pumps mid-model. Early 1969 engines got the 11-bolt pump with a 4" hub (casting 9796351). Partway through 1969, Pontiac moved to the 4.5" pump used through 1979. They share the same 11-bolt pattern, but the hub on the later pump sits a half inch further out, so it won't swap in without changing the pulley. Bolt it on as-is and the belts won't line up.

To check yours, measure from the pump mounting surface to the face of the hub where the pulley bolts on. Our water pump article shows how.

Stay with 4": Early 1969 Short Hub 4" Pump, Cast Impeller (APE-N140NW) or Flowkooler Early 1969 4" Hi-Volume (BRW-1647)

Convert to 4.5": Early 1969 4" to 4.5" Water Pump Conversion Kit (BPI-11B-WP-4.5-Kit), which includes the high-flow pump, gaskets, and a pulley that keeps your stock pulleys and brackets in line.

Water Pump Divider Plates · 1964–1968

The 1964–68 covers use a two-piece divider plate, and on some 1964–65 covers the bottom plate is cast into the cover. The plates came in two versions: the 1964–65 plate had a notch, which was dropped on later models. In our testing the single hole sent more water into the engine, which may be why the notch went away. Early 8-bolt designs are notorious for cooling issues.

The two-piece plate we sell has no notch and works in all 1964–68 covers. It takes a single water pump gasket. It may need fitting to the aftermarket TC-68 cover, and plates can need fitting even on an original cover, so check before final assembly.

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Divider Plates: 1964–68 Stainless Divider Plate Set (AAU-N140PF)

Water Pump Divider Plate · 1969 and Up

The 11-bolt uses a single divider plate plus two sleeves with O-rings. The sleeves are meant to have some movement in the cover; the divider plate presses against them and holds them in place.

The one-piece plate takes two water pump gaskets: one to seal the plate to the timing cover, and one to seal the pump to the plate.

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Divider Plate: Zinc (BPI-1061) or Stainless (BPI-1061S)

Sleeves w/ O-rings: Steel (BPI-1060) or Stainless (BPI-1060S)

Alignment Sleeves, Gaskets & Sealing

Timing cover alignment sleeves installed

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Alignment sleeves locate the timing cover on the block. They aren't strictly necessary, but they make installation and alignment fast and easy.

Sealing: we use RTV around the water ports and in the corners of the oil pan.

Gasket kit: our 1964-and-up kit covers any 8-bolt or 11-bolt cover and pump, with both water pump gasket styles plus the other gaskets and seals needed.

Alignment Sleeves: Timing Cover Alignment Sleeves (AAU-N538S)

Gasket Kit: Timing Cover Gasket Kit, 1964 and Up, 8 and 11 Bolt (BPI-GASKET-KIT-TC)

Individual Parts: Timing Cover and Water Pump Gaskets and Seals

8-Bolt to 11-Bolt Conversion Kits

The 11-bolt cools much better. If you aren't after a numbers-matching car, our kits include everything you need to convert a 1964–68 8-bolt engine: the 11-bolt cover, a high-volume pump, divider plate and sleeves, alignment sleeves and all the gaskets. Most serpentine systems also require the 11-bolt pump, which means the 11-bolt cover.

The conversion moves you from a 4" pump to a 4.5" pump, which throws off belt alignment. Our kits include the pulley that brings it back in line with your stock pulleys and brackets. Buying the parts separately? Use the PLW3 conversion pulley (black, PLW3B).

Before you order: these kits will not work on 1963 and older engines with the 4-bolt cover. The reproduction covers in the kits won't work with Tri-Power; choose the dimpled reconditioned cover option. On any Tri-Power setup, mock everything up before paint and gaskets in case something needs minor clearancing.

1968 8-Bolt to 11-Bolt Conversion Kit
1968 350 and 400 (BPI-TC-11B-KIT-P)

1964–67 8-Bolt to 11-Bolt Conversion Kit, Non-A/C
Includes 4-bolt balancer and non-A/C crank pulley (BPI-TC-11B-KIT-PHB-CRK)

Replacement Kits & Reconditioned Covers

Replacing worn parts but keeping your cover style? Our replacement kits bundle a stock-replacement cover with a high-flow pump, divider plate and gaskets. For a correct original, we also sell tested and refinished factory covers.

8-Bolt Replacement Kit w/ High Flow Pump
1968-style cover, fits 1964–68 (BPI-TC-8B-KIT)

11-Bolt Replacement Kit w/ Water Pump
1969–79, choice of pump (BPI-TC-11B-KIT)

Reconditioned Original Covers:

Running hot? See Common Reasons Why Pontiacs Overheat. Not sure which cover you have? Email a photo to info@butlerperformance.com or use our tech question form.