is this really a gen VI?
 

the casting number is 10237300, which Mortec shows as a 96-up gen VI, but the timing cover is a 10-bolt stamped steel with the timing tab on it and the harmonic balancer (looks aftemarket) has only one groove in it. I'm guessing that the front of the motor could have been modified to accept a 10-bolt timing cover. everything that I see says that it should have the cast 6 bolt timing cover. thanks

Re: is this really a gen VI?
 

just found this:

http://www.paceperformance.com/index...D&ProdID=26944

if you go down to the bottom of the page, under NOTES:, you see this

"The timing cover that comes with this engine will only accomodate a late model single roller timing chain. If a old style double roller timing chain is used, a Gen V sheetmetal timing cover must be used - part # 12551544 must be used.If this timing cover is used, only half of the bolt holes are drilled and tapped in the block ( this is how the Gen VI timing cover is set up) The extra bolt holes will need to be located by using the Gen V timing cover as a template and drilling and tapping the holes accordingly."

I wonder if this is what happened.