You'd have to pull the IP from the cover, then pull the cover from the engine so you can carefully leave the IP timing gear in it's current place so you don't mess up the timing. I had thought all the covers came with that port and it was either filled with a sensor or a plug based on if it had a tach or not. Learn something new every day!

 

Yeah same here! I've never seen on without that port!

 

6.9's (or at least the early ones) have the different style cover without the provision for a tach sensor. The oil fill spout is also different, instead of being part of the cover, it bolts to the front to cover where the IP bolts to the gear. The oil fill also goes straight up and down.

7.3's (and late 6.9's???) have the oil fill integral to the IP gear cover, and cocked at an angle forward. They have the provision to bolt in the sensor as shown above in the pictures. There is a flat cover on the front covering the IP gear bolts.

I don't know the breakdown of when they changed the style, or if some of the early ones had tach spots as well. I do recall reading somewhere that the oil fill changed because the straight up and down was a pain in the rear to use in vans. My thoughts are the the angled spot is stupid (in trucks) And requires a carefully placed funnel and slow pouring of the oil.

My thoughts on the tach wires always being screwed up, the sensor sticks up at a the top of the engine and might be easy fro people to press on. There is no strain relief so the wires are fairly exposed to begin with. Also given its proximity to the fan, and no strain relief, it might get flopped about in the wind created under the hood.

 

THat really ticked me off to find that out, I got an 87 block in the garage...can i use that newer style cover or no? It looks like it has two different ports...i dont think i can but its all good. I will just use the 86's cover....

 

Well in the process of pulling that cover I pulled the IP for Jayme . So I will just have to get that stuff in a box for when i head to Billings next haha

 

Should have no problem swapping the covers. My '85 6.9 has the front bolted oil fill tube with the tach sensor port. But it had a tach in it.

 

Here is the old style cover

 

Told you the 84 didnt have one. I am gonna put the 86's cover on.

 

looking for a diagram for the ignition of a 1986 e 350 wiring diagram or the whole electrical diagram , thanks