[Shotimes] OT - sb ford engine / tranny block plate

[Kevin & Cheryl Airth]

Justin:
 Don't run without the spacer. The spacer helps keep the T.Q. from being
forced into the front pump and destroying the pump. Can you relieve the
plate so it will allow the starter to be installed? Just grind some
clearance? As long as you have spacer under the mounting bolts between the
block and bell housing this should give the correct clearance.
.
.


> Hi folks,
>
> Sorry for the OT, but I need a quick and informed answer to help along my
Mustang project. I got a lot accomplished on it yesterday. It originally had
a 289 and early "green dot" Cruise-O-Matic C4. It is in the process of
receiving a 351W (bored and stroked to 408) and an AOD. I had to clearance
the tranny tunnel a bit for the fatter AOD, but afterward it sat on the new
crossmember perfectly. With the transmission in place we went to drop the
engine down in. We had the flexplate on, then took it back off after
realizing we'd forgotten the dust shield / spacer / block plate that goes
between the engine block and the bellhousing of the tranny. It was only then
that I realized this plate between the 289 and C4 would not work between the
351 and AOD. The new combo uses a larger diameter flywheel (had to have the
correct 28.2 oz weight grafted on), which pushes the starter out farther
than what the hole in the plate is provisioned for.
>
> What I'm trying to figure out is if I can go without the plate, or should
source the correct one. I'm pretty sure it would bolt together as is. If I
would go with no block plate, where would the slack get taken up? If it
brought the torque converter out away from the input shaft, or left the
motor mounts farther back than where they should be to bolt up, that would
be bad.
>
> Any and all thoughts please reply to me off list. Thanks in advance!
>
> Justin
> silver 92, and a couple other Fords...