Pictures worth a thousand words.

First pic, that's the one where the neighbors say "there goes the neighborhood".

I'm taking on a repair job that the local shop couldn't fix for a month. Usual stalling, lift pump ready for it's landfill burial plot. Fuel line leak sucking in air stalling the engine after the fuel cap keeps a nice snug vacuum on the tank. Found the owners stuck on the side of the road last week. Offered to help, and here we are.

Second pic is the one I need your help on. What do you call the plate that covers the flywheel. . . 'cause it's missin. My guess is, it's not good for all that road grit to get in there.

Last I knew they were just called a Inspection Cover :confused:

Yep, just the flywheel inspection cover..
and, you'd be amazed at how many gm trucks are running around without one...

Well, this is for a non-profit group. . . would it be considered esential, or optional? It would be nice if it were there, but if not really, really needed, I don't want to be spending their money on something piddly.

It would be considered optional. Depending of course, on the type of driving you do with it.

Years ago we took them off to help cool the converter/trans fluid during heavy towing. Their was even a company that made a 'Fan' that bolted between the flywheel and torque converter to help 'Move' the air around the bell.

Somebody will chime in about losing the seal without a cover.

If you feel it must be covered because they came from the factory that way, I can't believe they would be too expensive.

I've never even seen one of these vans and you have managed to attract two of them to work on. Nice going, you're a man after my own heart.

IF its not gravel driven much, no 4'wheeelin and sticken to mainly pavement i'd not bother with it.

The inspection cover reinforces the lower half of the transmission to keep the case from cracking. There should also be two strut rods that tie the cover to the motor mount bracket. Essential,:confused: but engineered to keep the tranny from cracking.

I have seen them made of plastic so i cant totaly agree with D.Camilleri. but who knows.
i put a real cool one on my chevelle, its chrome. It didnt have one prior to that.

Story about convertor covers. Had a hot rod Camaro. Was on a date and was looking for a secluded spot to park. I was going down a small alley way at night real slow and the engine started to slow down so I gased it. The engine then made a horrible sound and stalled out and would not spin over. Looked under the car and there was a mountain of wire wrapped around the converter. Someone had burned a tire in the alley in a burn pile and my car's ring gear picked up some of the wire from the cord. Had to tow the car home and it took half a day to cut out all the wire. I'll keep a cover on from now on.

Was on a date and was looking for a secluded spot to park.

Morale of the story: keep your fly & flywheel covered and things like this won't happen!

It's stamped sheet metal more a anti big stuff cover as DP details above my preference would be to have something there; also in some designs as D Cam references there is limited structural support I've not looked at 4l80 or 60 in that regard to know,

If budget is a concern get some heavy gauge metal and make your own, use a piece of heavy paper 1st for a template, to locate holes and see where the sheet needs to be dimpled to clear the converter & fly wheel. drill and hammer as required, or get from junk yard,

I think what DC is referring to is the 4 Wheel Drive version. Complete with strut rods. They are thick cast aluminum. I had one on an '81.

2 Wheel Drive is like TD explains.

Morale of the story: keep your fly & flywheel covered and things like this won't happen!

OR > Morale to the story:

Keep your fly covered up or you might wind up with something that burns like Goodyear rubber and Penicillian won't fix. My dear Sherman.

OR > Morale to the story:

Keep your fly covered up or you might wind up with something that burns like Goodyear rubber and Penicillian won't fix. My dear Sherman.

Peabody could be right

Pictures worth a thousand words.

First pic, that's the one where the neighbors say "there goes the neighborhood".

I'm taking on a repair job that the local shop couldn't fix for a month. Usual stalling, lift pump ready for it's landfill burial plot. Fuel line leak sucking in air stalling the engine after the fuel cap keeps a nice snug vacuum on the tank. Found the owners stuck on the side of the road last week. Offered to help, and here we are.

Second pic is the one I need your help on. What do you call the plate that covers the flywheel. . . 'cause it's missin. My guess is, it's not good for all that road grit to get in there.

There must be a breading farm close to you somewhere that has a release program on goin.
I'd go buy them a cover and give it to them if they are Non-Profit and then write it off taxes. But thats just me.

Yeah, but did you get any lov'n?

Sam