I’m in the process of assembling my newly rebuild engine, and I'm installing the timing cover. The Shop Manual calls for special tool “Timing Gear Cover Centering Gauge“, J-966 to be installed over the crankshaft to center the cover. Well I don’t own such a tool and I not sure I could even buy one. Once again my lathe to the rescue. I didn’t have any stock large enough so I used a piece of hardwood and turned a sleeve to fit over the crankshaft with the OD the same as the harmonic balancer. Before I put a micrometer on the OD, I cut it a bit too small so I added a few wraps of the painters tape. Now its a perfect fit. Ready to install the timing cover!
I had the same problem, not having the "Timing Gear Centering Gauge" so was casting around the hardware looking for something that could be used. I came up with a 1-1/4" PVC plug that glues into a socket fitting. Had nearly the exact ID of the crank snout and 8 flats on the outer edge, so I drilled out the end and filed a taper the high points of the octagon. Worked nicely, and cheap too.
