Water pump adapter plate

[Breitenbucher]

I received the water pump adapter plate today and temporarily bolted it onto my block and noticed that the top two holes to be drilled will have a gap of about an 1/8" between the block and the plate. I thought perhaps I had the wrong part until I re-read Deve's article that states not to over tighten these bolts or you could warp the plate. Has anyone made spacers to fill the gap so the bolts could be tightened? Seems like asking for trouble if the plate is warped ever so slightly would effect the water pump seal. I also see that on the left side (looking at the plate) the hole to be drilled and tapped will have a bit of the edge of it on the transition area from the block butted up against the plate to the area that is about an 1/8" away from the plate which could make drilling and tapping the hole difficult.
Any comments from folks who have done this would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Paul

[Pre68Dave]

Hi Paul
There are several thousand of these plates installed by now, probably 100 by me, and as long as you don’t get crazy tightening those bolts you will not have a problem. In reality they only need to be just snug.

[Breitenbucher]

Thanks Dave

[Carryall '51]

I need a short shaft water pump for my 261 (1954) because it's being installed in a 1951 carryall. The problem I keep running into is all the short shafts seem to have 3/8" pulleys on the my harmonica balancer is a 5/8" pulley. Yieks can anyone help me?

[Pre68Dave]

A pump for a 1941-52 will fit the 1954 engine and have a 5/8” pulley.

[Carryall '51]

Thanx Dave! So that pump for a '41 to '52 is considered a "Short Shaft'?

[Pre68Dave]

I don’t like calling the pumps used up to 1954 short shaft, although they do.
the term “short shaft “ should only be used on 1955-62 pumps that originally have a long shaft, and are modified by shorting them, ie. short shaft.
I prefer calling the pumps used before 1955 high mount, versus low mount, as the pump sits 3” higher than the later pump.
I will add that the 1955 first series truck used the 1954 design pump, cars did not.

[Carryall '51]

I suppose my only concern is this, with the 261 installed in the '51 engine bay will I need to change the OEM water pump to have clearance for the radiator?

[Pre68Dave]

If you truly have a 1954 engine, you will not have any clearance issues, as the 261 is the same length as a 216.

[Carryall '51]

If you truly have a 1954 engine, you will not have any clearance issues, as the 261 is the same length as a 216.

Thanx, Dave I appreciate the input!