S4 timing cover stress cracks?
 

Hey I just finally got my timing cover off my s4 block and I see some stress cracks or maybe flaking? I'm just wondering if this is normal or heard of before and if it's usable? I'm taking it off to put it on the s5 engine.

13Bs do not have a timing cover. Intake/exhaust timing is set up the port shape and rotor shape.

You must be referring to the front cover.

These marks are perfectly normal. They aren't cracks, more like surface defects. I've seen them on every single front cover I've ever held. :)

The covers are die-cast so it likely has something to do with that.

Yes front cover my bad! And ok that's what I thought at first with the casting but I tend to think the worst for when things happen. So I immediately thought they were cracks cause their were some inside the cover. Thanks for the help! And do you know if you were to go about putting a s5 in a s4 chasis. Do you need to grab the distributor drive and sprocket and oil pump from the original block or do you swap that s4 stuff over with the water pump and water fan?