302 oil pan gasket not fitting, should I cut it?

[Baldy]

I'm trying to install a new gasket on my '85 302. I bought a gasket from summit, the application chart said it fit my engine. It lines up right, but the 2 curved sections at the front and rear are too long, for lack of a better term.

When I lay the gasket on the pan, the curved sections want to move to one side or the other; if I shove them in place, then twist or bend, hopefully that describes it well enough.

I was looking online and noticed that many gaskets come in 4 pieces, the curved sections are separate. Could I just cut mine to make it fit, and put a dab of silicone at the cut points? The flat parts have a metal core, but the curved rubber parts do not.

The summit part number is SUM-G2335, link (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G2335/).

[Baldy]

Nevermind, I found the 4-piece gasket at Discount, and I'll be returning the Summit gasket.

I just realized though, my timing chain cover doesn't fit. There's a cup-like piece on the top gear, and it's hitting the inside of the cover. I bought this cover because I'm converting the old clockwise water pump and v-belt setup for a counter-clockwise wp and serpentine pulleys. What's with that cup? Or do I need a different timing chain cover?

edit: I guess that's the fuel pump eccentric, but I won't be needing it. Can I remove that? Or even better, can I just grind it down to clear the timing cover?

[Long_Stroke]

I'm pretty sure you can just remove that, as long as your not running a mechanical fuel pump. Might need a washer to replace it, not sure though.

[quicksilver]

Yep you can leave it off i have done it many times.

[Baldy]

Awesome, thanks.

[Baldy]

That worked well. Bolted the engine and tranny back in the car, removed the fuel pump eccentric, and started bolting the timing cover on. Unfortunately the bolt kit I got from Summit is wrong, they're all the wrong lengths. I might return it, or I might try to make it work with a mixture of old and new bolts.