Flywheel cover material and serial number?

[Moonshadow]

I'm having an A-4 installed in my Columbia sailboat and was wondering about the flywheel cover. It appears to be made from fiberglass or something similar. I can only find info saying they were made of metal. Anyone have any ideas about this ? The serial number looks like 177259 which from some other info I found would make the engine manufacture around 1970 to 1972. I read somewhere else that when the oil filler is positioned above the flywheel (which mine is) that this indicates a mid '70s engine. I was told the engine came out of a 1970 Contest 30 but it's believed that this was not the original engine in the that boat.
I'm SOOOOO confused !!!!
Thanks for any help.
Ron

[Don Moyer]

Ron,

Your engine is indeed a "late model" engine based on the serial number and (more importantly) the age of the boat from which you believe it came. Plastic flywheel covers are somewhat unusual on an Atomic 4, but when we do see them, they seem to come from your vintage. If you ever come across a late model cast iron flywheel cover, it will fit on your engine.

Don