I recently put an aftermarket chrome timing chain cover on, but it did not come with the timing tab. I bought one at Pep boys but noticed that it doesnt mount in the same position as the original did. It is slightly off to the right about an inch. All the ones Ive found on the net are the same so far.

Will this work or is there a timing tab built that will go in the stock location?
If I use this one, will it change the timing? The orig tab was dead center above the crank oil seal hole.

thanks for any input !!

You're running up against the old 12:00 vs. 1:30 position timing pointer issue. Many have run across this quirk.

The difference is the location of the timing mark on the balancer. I'll also bet it's the smaller 6-3/4" diameter balancer, right? Some have the line scribed so that it points straight up when #1 is at TDC (12:00 position). Others have the line scribed so that it's in the more traditional 1:30 position when #1 is at TDC. Almost everything aftermarket uses the more traditional 1:30 position.

2 options:

1. Replace the balancer with an aftermarket replacement that lines up with aftermarket timing tab (if you want to do this then feel free to ask me for an application that you can go ask for at the parts store).

2. Put the engine at true TDC on #1 and scribe a new line on your old balancer that lines up exactly with TDC on your aftermarket timing tab.