Help Identifying a Part
 

'69 C3 350-4sp w/~15k miles on swapped 350.crate

I'm in the process of replacing the oil pan gasket to remedy an oil weep at the front of the junction.
I removed the oil pan and existing gasket and discovered this plastic thing behind the harmonic balancer with an obvious fracture. Guessing this is the source of the oil weepage.

Do you recognize this part:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...c9e5ca3557.jpg

Why on earth... 1) is there a plastic part in this area? ...that 2) serves as a critical mating surface..?
Also... bracing myself here... what is the removal/replacement procedure for this thing? Points if you reply with a link on RockAuto to a METAL replacement part!

Is that not just the lower timing cover gasket for a normal 4 piece pan gasket?
M

After some cursory research, it may be what i initially suspected: a plastic timing cover. Looks like a two hour job just became a weekend activity.

I missed that date stamp on the block.... Plastic fantastic :thumbs:
M