No question here is dumb.
I was cheaper than you. I think it was my bottom cover had a hole in it where one of the pulleys rubbed it. I put a piece of duct tape on it and filled the void with Loctite plastic epoxy. Then I touched it up with paint. You can't see it when it's installed. If it was the upper cover I would probably bought another. That plastic epoxy is good repairing any type of plastic. I think I bought it at Home Depot.
Ad far as compatible cars there is a list on one of these forums. The one with many compatible parts is the 88-89 Mazda 323. Some parts you can go back to 86. The base model I think had a SOHC while the GTX had a turbo DOHC. Ford Festiva is another one. I kind of like them cars.
