TA Performance or Weber Racing front cover?

T

Tom Tom Turbo

Turbo Goes Woo Woo
Joined
Jul 10, 2002
*****please keep this on topic*****

I don't want this to turn into a vendor bash or argument over who did which mods first etc. I'm looking for some real-world experience opinions on which front cover I should use on a basically stock rebuild, shooting for high 10's-low 11's. I currently have a Chinese el-cheapo "high volume/pressure" front cover and oil pump that was all the rage in the early 2000's. It leaks like crazy, has crappy oil pressure, and I'm sick of my car marking its territory everywhere.

From what I gather......TA is machining the aftermarket castings to their specs, opening up the passages, cleaning them up and installing blueprinted oil pumps and adding the 3 bolts to hold the front seal in place. (Forgive me if I left out some services, as I'm no expert)

On the other hand....It appears as though Weber is using GM covers and doing basically the same mods as TA does with the aftermarket castings.

Which one do a majority of us think is better suited for my application? Please try to give useful support to your answer, not just "TA because my neighbor's dog uses one" or "Weber because they gave me a free t-shirt"
 
How about, TA because that's what I have used on all my motors with no issues and great oil pressure

Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app
 
No first hand experience with either, but think either will be ok. Therefore, it would come down to price/service for me.
Between these two, id buy one from Nick McHale as he has proven them on his race cars.
JMO.

Is the EB cover an option for you?
 
The EB cover would be an option if I knew what they cost and I didn't have to provide my own GM cover. I currently don't have a GM cover in my possession.
 
Tom Tom Turbo said:
The EB cover would be an option if I knew what they cost and I didn't have to provide my own GM cover. I currently don't have a GM cover in my possession.
Click to expand...

I would a PM Earl and see. I have his cover, no leaks, and you will have the option of different levels of oil pressure
 
I don't see why everybody spends so much time on worrying about the front cover. I have run stock unmodified covers from 14's to 8's. Never had a failure in the 16 years I have been messing with these cars.
 
I'm worrying about the front cover because the shit Chinese one that came on my motor is pissing oil. For about the cost of a new factory cover you can get one of these that have been improved upon.


Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app
 
i say go w eb. well worth it. believe his price is comparbale to other vendors. and ibelieve he uses gm covers..
 
The TA cover is machined by them in-house to closer tolerances than factory covers, and MUCH closer than the off-shore copy.

The most critical dimension that pertains to good oil pressure is the pocket sides where the gears generate oil pressure/flow, and this is exactly where the TA cover excels with their precise machining.

The owner of TA is one of the most knowledgeable persons about Buick oiling since he has been working with these covers since the early 80's when we were working in his garage at home. He also has had access since those years to factory engineers and the blueprints they used.

The Buick 350 V-8 has an identical oil pump as the V-6 engines, and almost the same as the 455 V-8 Buick engine which TA reproduced many years ago when they were dis-continued.

The original factory turbo Buick cover is a very good piece, but since GM parts is now purchasing new covers from outside vendors, I find the original piece from a factory engine more desirable than one from current supplies.
 
Nick, thank you for some clarification. What am I looking at complete, ready to rock cover and pump from TA? I actually added a small oil line to feed the end of the cam and gear area "Lee Thompson" modification. Is there any advantage to running this setup with a TA cover?


Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app
 
[QUOTE="Tom Tom Turbo, post: 3446416, member: 6681"...... I actually added a small oil line to feed the end of the cam and gear area "Lee Thompson" modification. ..../QUOTE]

Oiling the gear area is a good idea, but having an external oil line makes me uncomfortable so we do simple internal mods to oil the chain and gears.
 
Nick Micale said:
[QUOTE="Tom Tom Turbo, post: 3446416, member: 6681"...... I actually added a small oil line to feed the end of the cam and gear area "Lee Thompson" modification. ..../QUOTE]

Oiling the gear area is a good idea, but having an external oil line makes me uncomfortable so we do simple internal mods to oil the chain and gears.
Click to expand...

^^^ I've been doing that mod since the 80's on my B/B motors. ^^^^
 
Mine are actually cheaper since I include a full gasket kit, extra gaskets and install a neoprene front seal.


Nick have you got another TR yet? I remember when you posted about getting back into one.
 
Never purchased anything from TA performance, BUT! I can tell you my USED webber racing cam and timing set/cover with UNKNOWN miles has been going 5 years strong in my motor. Cant be bad either route you go though... :)
 
earlbrown said:
.......Nick have you got another TR yet? I remember when you posted about getting back into one.
Click to expand...

Just got this one back from the paint shop and it runs nice, just finishing the Vintage Air installation, and can then start on the sltver 1986 T project which from 1986 belonged to a good friend now deceased.

All 3 white T's are running and the race car is getting ready for the start of our season next month!

OP, sorry for going off-topic, but Earl asked! :)

Limited.JPG
 
Nick Micale said:
Just got this one back from the paint shop and it runs nice, just finishing the Vintage Air installation, and can then start on the sltver 1986 T project which from 1986 belonged to a good friend now deceased.

All 3 white T's are running and the race car is getting ready for the start of our season next month!

OP, sorry for going off-topic, but Earl asked! :)

View attachment 231752
Click to expand...

Nick I am diggin that color combo, very different and different is goooood.(y)
 
I purchased a Weber and when I got it I tried spinning the shaft by hand. It would lock up after about a half rotation. Called them and they said, yeah the guy that normally does that is gone so someone else did yours better send it back. Then they didn't want to reimburse me for the return shipping charge.....
Second one I got was fine but my oil pressure was anything to write home about.
Moral of the story. Make sure you check whatever you get. Had installed the first one without checking who knows what could have happened.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I got a TA cover from Nick yesterday. It's the nicest cover I've seen out of the box. The machine work is far better than the Silver Seal replacement covers and most of the factory ones I've used in the past.

Neal
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Roy L.
flatten the thrust surface on the front cover?
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
earlbrown
E
G
100,000 mile engine service - a few questions
Replies
11
Views
535
granitestategn
G
T
Amazing 1986 Grand National
Replies
4
Views
2K
Tom Kelly
T
G
WTT Built Shortblock for complete Roller Motor
Replies
2
Views
790
greeneyegi
G
D
New cam doesn't fit
Replies
14
Views
2K
TIMINATOR
TIMINATOR
Top